Similar thing happening here in Nova Scotia. The Smallmouth have been vilified by the trout and Salmon organizations and are being blamed for the decline of both. They are well organized and have the ear of inland Fisheries dept. Mid season they came up with a new regulation requiring zero release of Smallmouth Bass in the west branch Lahave River and Lake Ainslie Cape Breton. They have even Poisoned at least one lake with Roetine.