I've fished for Small mouths in rivers in a couple different rivers and have picked up a few decent fish to around 20+". My favorite lures are as follows with tips on where to try them.

1. My all time best is a 2-3" long brown Bear hair jig in 1/8 or 1/4 oz size. Drift this dragging occasionally through deeper riffles and give a big hop to it as it drifts into the head of a Deep pool. Deer hair can be used but Bear is more supple, Angora rabbit is even better but costs too much. Casting straight across and letting it swing to directly below can be DEADLY. Used on 11-point R. in Ark., Dry Cr. in Ark., Sacto R. in CA, Russian R. in CA, and Baldie's Cr. in NJ. If you use Deerhair add a small pork trailer.

2. Salt and pepper curly tailed Kalins 3" grubs on a 1/4 jighead. Fish as #1 and cast in pools and when it hits bottom, let sit to count of 5-10, then take 2 fast cranks, tight line to the bottom and let sit to repeat.

3. Rebel Craws as LeapinBass mentioned. A)Cast across and reel as slow as possible while still making the plug wiggle. B)Cast Up and across and BURN it back to you, producing VICIOUS strikes.

Hope this helps.

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade