If you want to see how its done, tune into the Bassmasters on ESPN and watch the elite pros bring in huge bags of Erie smallmouth out of Buffalo NY. I guide for them on the Canadian side and the NY side in spring. You can target any depth you want to, but the real big bags seem to be coming from depths to 60 feet.
Depending on wind, which is necessary, sometimes spinnerbaits and jerkbaits work well from 2-18 feet of water on rocky points and reefs. Dragging tubes in higher winds works great in 2--40 feet of water and dropshotting gulp bait in 40-60 feet works well when you can have boat control. Good luck.
