Do you have the answer????

For sometime now I have been noticing that big fish seem to be in one place and smaller fish in another.(except during the spawn). What I mean is big walleye, big sheephead,big northern,big white bass,big catfish, big carp, big Largemouth and Small mouth all in one area and smaller ones only in some other areas. In particular I’m talking about structure. From the enviornment they seem very similar.?????? Does anybody know why?? Lawrence

Ive seen this in certain spots on pool 8 where deep rock structures exist near the channel. My guess is bigger forage opportunities (larger baitfish) but that is a guess. In this particular spot every species seems to run bigger.

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

Predators are competive…. larger predators can take the prime habitat that provides them with the feeding opportunities that they require…. if that feeding spot overlaps with smaller individuals then the larger ones are likely to drive the smaller ones out….

but, its also true that a larger fish will sometimes target larger or different forage then the smaller ones will…. this will also dictate the location of larger fish…..

Ive noticed that certain general areas will hold fish of different sizes… but within those broad areas there are some small structural changes that will provide your larger fish…….. I feel this is a case of the larger fish just playing “king of the hill”……. and taking the territory they wish to occupy…..