Fish managers recently have begun discussing the use of special regulations to create a trophy bass fishery. Under such a plan, a high slot limit might be used to protect truly large fish. Another approach to producing trophy bass may be a simple no-kill requirement. The exact effects of any size restriction or other change in regulations depend on lake fertility, fishing pressure, competition form other species, condition of the forage base and other factors that must be studied lake by lake. Smallmouth Stocking As with largemouth, smallmouth are never stocked to add to an already vigorous population.
Stocking is used only to introduce or reintroduce smallmouth to a body of water.
A recent example in a riverain situation illustrates the difficulties in stocking. A section of the Cannon River had lost its population of smallmouth bass. Fingerlings from a lake dwelling smallmouth bass population were stocked in this river section but were never found again. The following year fingerlings from a nearby river were stocked into this same river section. Today, anglers are catching many nice smallmouth bass in this river section.