I've been catching 6 inch smallies out of a small hole and I know one of the parents is there so I had the same question. Now I'm on small water but being used to trout fishing the size of hooks and baits used for smallmouth are hard to comprehend. My hand hovers over the hook tray too long and goes too small. But one fruitless throw with a 1/0 and I"m like "I knew it". Working on it. Going back today, going big.