I seem to notice that smallmouth bass are more often associated with rivers rather than lakes. However, about two years ago, I tossed a few casts into a couple acre private pond of a woman I knew, and it was strike after strike. In 15 minutes, I landed four...but to my surprise...they were smallmouth bass, not largemouth.

For a private pond, I found this odd. Are they more common outside of the river basins than I thought?

Yes.

Up in the North where we live almost every body of water has a smallmouth population. Some, if not most, have a population mixed with largemouth and smallmouth.

Since you are from NE Ohio, 3 prime examples close to you: Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Pymatuning.

All 3 have great smallmouth and largemouth populations, and frankly, in tournament situations you'll often see anglers targeting the smallmouth up here. On average they tend to be a little heavier than the largies. 

I fish a deep, clear reservoir a lot for both smallies and largemouths. In this particular body of water, the smallies are usually relating to the deeper, off-shore structures though. As was previously said, smallmouth are just about everywhere up here, in the northeast. With the exception of eutrophic type, shallow lakes that heavily weeded.

Yes.

Up in the North where we live almost every body of water has a smallmouth population. Some, if not most, have a population mixed with largemouth and smallmouth.

Don't forget Woodcock. I've never caught a largemouth out of there......all smallies!

Almost all of our lakes here in MO have a smallmouth population.  Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Stockton have good amounts of quality smallies.

There are many excellent Smallmouth lakes in Minnesota as well.  I just prefer the river Smallies...usually more aggressive and fight like there's no tomorrow.

maybe thats because there might not be a tomorrow for them