SHORTY, we may need some educated input from others, but I believe that smallmouth just don't grow that fast. A 12" smallie may be 2 years old (?).
Heck, I think the 12" LMB's in our pond are on average are 2 years old, at ice out in the spring I typically see lots of 3-1/2" to 5" LMB in shallow. I was thinking a 12" 2 year old smallie might be big under natural growing conditions for our area. Here is what got me thinking about stocking some smallmouth:
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/stocking_smallmouth_bass.html BTW - I think I'm starting to catch both the Cecil and Bruce envy all at the same time! I might even have a little bit of Dave Willis envy too!
