The most basic and versatile baits there are for smallmouth fishing beginners have to be strike king rage tail grubs on a darter or football head jig. Even my little brother was catching smallmouth on them a few years ago when he was 3! Easy and effective, give em a shot!
If you are looking to go in depth with lure choice however you must take in to account: weather, water clairity, depth, structure, food sources in the area and so on and so on. So if you're no pro, stick to the basics and give a grub a try!
