OK here is my take on this . Yes some are very good points , BUT as far as the slot limit goes on smallmouth yes you may be helping one species but the "meat hogs " as they are called then target the largemouth. Case in point DALE HOLLOW. I can remember when Dale's largemouth population was unbeliveable.But in only a few years after the slot limit was introduced largemouth numbers seemed to decline. (You saw less fish , and fewer fish(largemouth) where being caught. It seems now if someone is going to keep a fish they have to keep a largemouth (or ky wich has no limit). The small mouth will live in open water enough that the population still thrives even without a slot limit. Even when they raised the size limit to 18" the fish and wildlife officials declared it wasn't out of necessity but more to satisfy a few political issues . (Commisioners at the time)