mhall I do not see how a slot limit could hurt and it might have the same effect on c-land however do that many fishermen keep smallmouth to eat? There are so many catch and release fisherman today I don't know if the slot will help that much. Now with all that said I fish Bull Shoals every year and the small mouth fishery had gotten better with a 15" limit so I might be wrong. One other thought the pressure for smallmouth should be down because of the explosion at Dale. I would have to travel five hours to fish Dale or Cumberland I can assure you I would go to Dale.