2" SMB in late Fall troubles me. SMB in IL should spawn in mid/late May, and 5 month old fish should be at least 4" in the Fall, with exceptional fish reaching 7-8". My personal record is 9" after 5 months growth. Just a word of warning, don't be the easy out for a hatchery trying to dump inferior [runt] fish. I do hope these fish thrive for you, just something for others to bear in mind when buying fish.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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