Smallies in/out of structure

W/in the past few years I've ventured away from the lakeshores of SW Ohio waiting for channel cats to hit my chicken livers deadlined while I bake in the hot sun.  I've gone to the small rivers and streams of and around the Great and Little Miami rivers close to the Ohio River.  I've had some luck w. smallies, but it's been sporadic.  I think I just lost track of what I was doing when I caught them b/c I was so excited when fish were on.  Does anyone have any advice on baits/ tactics to use in areas where there is cover (ie. log jams or low hanging trees) or where there is no cover in slow moving pools of water like what parts to fish it (ie. leading edge of the riffles or the tail of the pool where the water comes up to begin the next riffle)?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated to an aspiring and ever expanding fisherman.

Thanks ahead of time.