In most every case the black smallmouth bass is the regular SMB. You will see this term from old hatcheries with older operators or their family still in charge of the main operations. The basses (Micropterus) of the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family are often referred to as black bass. I have an older book from the Sport Fishing Institute titled Black Bass Biology and Management.
I think, but do not know for sure that the term black comes from the color of the hatchling fry which are usually very dark or black appearing esp the SMB.
Crayfish are a "favorite" food item of SMB, if fish have favorite foods. Favorite is a human term. I think the SMB are better adapted at eating crayfish than LMB. SMB are more often associated with streams or better known as a stream fish compared to LMB. Crayfish are usually more abundant or prevalent in streams compared to most static waters or pond waters. I've been told by a old wise hatchery man who reliably each year produces fingerling SMB that SMB reproduce best for him if they have a good diet of crayfish. SMB will live, grow well, and even reproduce on a very low diet of crayfish. They do it in a neighbor's pond.
Adding crayfish will not make the SMB harder to catch. In fact adding them and maintaining a good number of crays may make SMB easier to catch, because the SMB would be getting a frequent diet of crayfish and the bass would readily recognize them as food, especially the more vulnerable crayfish. Fish including bass will often feed on specific food items at the exclusion of other items.
One last interesting note. You mention Imlay City said they would have SMB fingerlings next fall. Don't put a lot of money on that promise. Often hatcheries get very poor spawn success from their SMB broodstock. One hatchery in IL had this year 3 ponds set up for SMB fingerling production for this fall. Not one fingerling was produced. Remember that wise old fish hatchery guy that I mentioned above, Imlay City and several other hatcheries including Zetts in PA, occassionally or often call him to buy SMB fingerlings. When his supply is low he does not sell his fingerlings to other hatcheries. Bottom line, hedge your bet and also check with or order from Laggis Fish Hatchery in Gobbles MI for SMB in fall of 2008. Laggis carries high quality perch and SMB, both trained to eat fish food.
