I have always considered eating smallmouth sacrilegious. They are too special for me not to release. I will eat largemouth when it's all there is on the menu otherwise I prefer perch, other panfish, walleye & pike for my freshwater fish consumption. 

32 minutes ago, MidwestBassin87 said:

Release the fish! Stop eating smallies. their to fun to catch to not release

Most systems can tolerate selective harvest of small to medium sized fish, including bass.  In fact, it is beneficial in some instances to remove a few from time to time.

 

My preference is also to release them simply because there is better table fare available here.  I value brown bass for their fighting ability, not their filets.  Just personal preference.  Luckily most other anglers here have the same preference.

On 9/18/2015 at 5:55 PM, Junebugman said:

I cant believe this! With all the pike and panfish to catch. Eating bass! Well if the idiot force called the"dnr" would know how to manage a precious resource like mille lacs they would'nt be in this quandry they are in. whats going to happen in 5 or 10 years when theres zillions of peanut smallies in that lake and the anglers are griping "what happened to the smallies" well where will you point your fingie. Junebugman p.s. i'm ashamed of people who destroy one resource for the greed of another nuff'said

 

Agreed!  I hope I never get so hungry that I would even consider killing a smallmouth for food.  Why kill the greatest fighting sportfish in fresh water, which are the object of my passion?

10 hours ago, Tackleholic said:

 

Agreed!  I hope I never get so hungry that I would even consider killing a smallmouth for food.  Why kill the greatest fighting sportfish in fresh water, which are the object of my passion?

You’ll have to ask a deer hunter why