The theory is that the lake’s smallmouth population came to be in Moosehead Lake through the irresponsible act of some reckless bucket stockers. Suzanne AuClair, a seasoned outdoorswoman who writes a monthly outdoor column about the Moosehead area in the Northwoods Sporting Journal, recently wrote this: “The smallmouth bass were illegally introduced here at Moosehead Lake in the mid-1970s. Most locals consider them a scourge. They are now thriving throughout the Moose River/Moosehead Lake waterway. It is unknown when and how they will affect the native wild brook trout fisheries.”