Smallmouth in the bucket?

I was interested to read that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks wants to kill the smallmouth bass in a public pond in River Rock subdivision in Belgrade.

FWP worries that the smallies could be illegally introduced into area rivers and streams. The department plans to replace the bass with rainbow trout.

Neither species is native to Montana, but perhaps because rainbows were planted here first – 1889 as opposed to 1914 -- they get preferential treatment. Or maybe it’s because most anglers think of Montana as a trout fishery, not as bass’n destination.

Smallmouth would no doubt...