I don't often share, but I'm in a good mood tonight. I too like to downsize and fish light gear. Here are my top 5 favorite places to fish.
1) Stoner Creek- Either Ike's or Frymans from my boat or other sections by wading. Fish any kind of baits with success, but like topwater around cover.
2) Licking River- Great smallies with my top producing baits are rebel craws, small spinners or a 4" lizards with a splitshot.
3) Cedar Creek- I fish out of a 14' aluminum boat and get back inside the trees. Mostly fishing topwater and soft plastics. Just caught 25 pounds of bass in 30 minutes on Memorial day while everybody else was run the lake. Caught 'em on senkos and lizards.
4) Dix River- Below the dam to the Ky River. Jigs and shad raps are staples, but with the right conditions jerk baits can load a boat.
5) KY River- High Bridge, Boonesborough or Clays Ferry. The thing I like about the river is that it is always capable of producing big fish. I like crankbaits and soft plastics.

Hope this helps. Now that it is heating up, I like to look for grass beds and throw a frog.