Amartinbio, thanks for jumping in the discussion.
im guessing your data is Kentucky based, and if correct, could the growth rates be lower ( or higher) the farther you go upstream, which is south, not Tennessee on Kentucky Lake?
unless it's different, this will be the 3rd year that 70% or more of what I catch is less than 10". I do not include spring spawn. This is if I fish entirely on Big Sandy portion of Kentucky Lake. I can fish east, on main Tennessee river channel, which is more river like, less lake, and my numbers are more like 50/50.
I think the areas where the carp are concentrated are a big factor in our crappie size, and bass. The bait fish numbers are reduced, there is less food for our crappie and bass, carp is the reason, in some areas.
At the spawn rates, and growth rates, isn't it a matter of time before the carp are concentrated all over Kentucky Lake?
Forgot to say, your explanation of changes from 10 to 12 makes perfect sense to me. I'm not concerned with catching a limit, I usually fish 2 to 4 hours, 50 or so days a year. I'm not after a limit, I want fish for dinner tonight, and if most everything I catch I must throw back, then dinner may not be fish!