What's with the smallies?

I’ve fished pool 2 for many years by boat and land, from s. St. Paul to the ford dam(lock and dam #1). In years past — maybe ’08-’12 — I could catch many smallmouth, with quite a few 17″ to 20″, all up near the ford dam. Recently, the last 4-5 years or so, I have caught MANY of them, but rarely are they 10″-12″. What could be the issue here? I was thinking 10 year population cycle like ruffed grouse, but I’m under the impression that is only a white bass thing…
By the way – where have all the white bass gone from around upper pool 2??

I caught quite a few 10-14 inch smallies this year also near the damn. No big ones for me either though.

Have yet to catch a smallie this year on p2, or on p1. Last year I would lock up and troll the gorge with my kid and it was almost a guarantee that we’d pick up smallies around 12-14″. Nothing at all so far this year. No idea what happened to the crackers either?

Pool above St. Anthony falls smallie population is growing larger. Probably caught 3 over 18″ so far, with many in that 14-16″ range which from years past is getting bigger! Usually 10-12″ was the norm for years.

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Cute kid!