I've had better luck catching smallies at Milton but I know there is good fishing in Berlin and West Branch. Milton has lots of smallies on the docks but often they are smaller. Back in the Mahoning river can be good too. There are some spots where channel and docks meet up on main lake that produce well at times.
If your willing to drive a little further and you definately have your heart set on catching smallmouth vs lgmouth then maybe you should try the Ohio river and I'd goto the Cumberland pool near East LiverPool, Oh. If you go there fish the mouths of the creeks , in the creeks, Tomlinson Run areas and look for the weedbeds. Just my .02