I love catching big smallest on a 4 or 5 WT rod. I like using heavy wooly boogers similar to how you use a jig. You can high stick drift them through a hole and make them like a nymph imitation too. Best part is they're just as much fun but not nearly as finicky as trout.
Nice fish! It's a blast. I live very close to a world-class smallmouth fishery and they are a ton of fun on fly rods (and spinning rods). Spring is definitely the easiest time to target them with a fly rod, though in some of the Champlain tributaries, you'd be better off with an 8 weight. Spring smallies around here seem to average 3-5 pounds.
I caught some smallies this spring, along with pike, in the big lake.....fly,of course.
I haven't really understood the coloring of these bass...but a friend informed me that they do change color as the season progresses. Love the bronzeback colors.
Congrats on your first!!!