So I had a couple hours here and there over the last few days to fish. I started in my normal spot and caught fish but they were little. I was catching several fish a day around 15 pounds until the last two trips and since then they've been small.
So moved to another lake and same thing, so I went to a new spot I've never been to and the fish got smaller, which I didn't think could happen.
So my question is, did I just have a bad day or do the big fish not really hang out with the little fish? When I start catching these babies should I just move and look for bigger fish or stick it out?

I do not target Carp but speaking about big sunfish (witch I target) hanging around the little ones? It does not happen that often. Usually the trophy fish stay away from the small ones. Just my two cents.



Side Note: I have been seeing a lot of big Carp in shallow water. Wonder if their spawn in near?

I experienced the same thing at lake lewisville. Was catching all good size but my last trip out by biggest carp was I would guess 6 lbs and several under 2 lbs. I set a new PW at 1 lb 6oz!

Using my long arms to make this 2 pounder look big! Still a blast to catch!

i knew baby carp existed but never saw one until now! All I can catch is buffalo. Have not seen a carp in the last 10 days.

those little ones are what big gar prefer..its candy to them

Today was like no day I've ever seen. We caught over 20 carp and not a single one broke two pounds. I've moved spots three times now and it's the same story. Time to change tactics.

hard to say whst the issue is;
Perhaps the bigger ones are in spawning mode, or recovering from spawning in deeper areas?
What kind of wster, depth, cover, etc are tou fishing?

depends on ,many things, time of year, bait, the venue etc. etc, lakes like Joe pool will only get you smaller fish, if your catching just smaller fish I suggest giving up on that spot, the fish compete for food and the bigger fish just cant compete.

I've fished the same spot at Joe Pool that was yielding 15s regularly and now they are 5s but I went back to another lake I fished in the past and got 10 fish over 12 this weekend.

Maybe the water got cold and they shrank. lol

I'm a catfisherman, and the old timers always said that if the little ones are biting, you won't catch any big ones. Then when the big fish start hitting, the little fish hide out for fear of being eaten by the big ones. In other words, the big fish and little fish don't eat at the same time. I don't know if this has anything to do with carp, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

from watching the carp go nuts on the banks and around marinas.... they look to school like cats... big ones stick together with a couple smaller stragglers....

I've been chasing this grass carp for 4 weeks, it's almost like deer hunting. I've baited done everything. I want to catch on a fly, it's big.I'm at a loss. Any ideas?

I am going thru the same thing bass fishing. A lot of small fish. I think it has to do with the great spawn's in the spring that we have had due to the added lake levels

The best way to get grassers I have found is to toss out some floating bait, like Sugar Pops, or some kind of floating cereal. As the fish discover what is going on, they will start a feeding frenzy. Then once they are in the area, they will break the surface, sucking in the freebies, that is when you get to target your bigger fish. I did this last month at a small pond. It was about 5 minutes before larger fish showed up. Once they did, I could not beat them off the hook. I actually had to wait for bigger fish before I start presenting my bait again. I tossed out just enough to keep them interested. Saw a couple of big targets, got into one of them, but he found a snag at the bank and broke off. It was a bigger fish. Not sure what fly you are presenting, but I would use a sugar pop or Kix to get them into the area.