Determining the right bait, place and time, depends on many things, including time of the year, and prevailing weather conditions. For most of the season, smallmouth location is relatively consistent. The more rocks the merrier, and the better your odds of finding exceptional smallmouth fishing. While rocks may be the answer, a good portion better be in shallow water. Plenty of rocks in the three to six range are the ticket, and can provide enough feeding opportunities to support a large population of smallmouth bass.
Fewer rocks means fewer feeding opportunities, and fewer fish, period.
The big attraction for smallies, when it comes to rocks, is the amount of crayfish they can hide. All those cracks and crevices play host to thousands of crayfish, which occasionally make the mistake of venturing out in the open where they become extremely vulnerable, and make an easy mark for smallies on the prowl. Crayfish make up a huge portion of the smallmouth bass diet, and are an absolutely must for sustaining any kind of a quality fishery. Knowing what smallies feast on should weigh in heavily when deciding on a presentation. Lures and baits that imitate the look and actions of a crayfish are top producers, and include tube jigs and crankbaits.