Deeper water, just keep moving the bait down or change to a slip bobber for casting reasons, plus, with means of a graph you can pretty much stick it right in their face, how can they resist. With spinner and buzz baits, I prefer to use the smaller size ones. I think they are easier to place on a cast. They run easier through tighter spots and high grass and as far as I can tell, the bass don't seem to mind. For Northern, I am partial to using live bait.
Suckers are first choice if available, next being creek chubs and third, shinners.
Depending on locale, on a calm day, if I'm over water 15' or better, I'll free drift them with just enough weight to keep them in the bottom third of the column. Hook location is just behind dorsal but I will sometimes move closer to the tail. If there is a breeze, I'll move my hook-up to the head. Straight up through the top of the head. Offset enough to not kill the bait.