I've caught thousands on a Rapala F13 in orange. I know that might seem too big a bait for smallmouth, but I like the casting distance. However, I've also lost scores of the F13s to pike. 

The only smallies I've caught on hard baits, were caught with a megabass 110 jr.

Easily Squarebills.

Rapala DT6 in Demon.

I fish a lot of small shallow rivers/streams. My go to this early fall has been the Duo Realis 48SR

Series 10 X-Rap in Hot Head pattern.

LC Pointer

LC RC 1.5, Super Spook Jr., and jerkbaits, I use a lot of different baits but the SPRO McStick 110 has produced more fish for me lately.

6th Sense lipless in Wild Lava Craw.

Summer: Lucky Craft Sammy 100 in American shad

Winter: Lucky Craft Pointer 78 in chart shad

Rapalas, Bandits and Bombers. 1, 2 and 3.

I only chase them in rivers but mine has to be a craw colored Shad Rap.

Whopper Plopper 90 and a good old shallow diving squarebill. 

For The 8-12 ft zone the Spro "Mike McClelland" RkCrawler 55 Crankbait has been very good - 

Hammered a mess of smallies with one today ~ love the Phantom Brown & the Red Crawfish colors

A-Jay

Bomber long A

Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad

 

Cheap 75 cent popper from Walmart. I believe it's made by crème lures. Change out the hooks and it works just as well as the 6 dollar tiny popper by Rebel