Almost any baitfish will work. The place where i get my bait sell what they
call "Shiners". I think they are emerald shiners and they work very well.
Best to get them 3 to 5 inches long, or slightly bigger depending o the size of
the fish you're after. If you catch your own bait, almost any wild minnow or
shiner will do fine, but only use the larger ones - 3" or larger. Smaller bait
usually means that sunfish, perch, and crappie will get it before the bass do.
For Smallmouths, small creek chubs and fallfish work too, but I've never had
any luck catching LM with chubs.

-Zimmy