Cormerants have you seen any

[Bill Powell]

I know that Red don't get as many fishermen in the summer but I was wondering for those that do fish it quiet a bit on open water have you noticed if the population of Cormerants growing or not. To me it seemed like there were a lot more on Winnie this summer and thought since Red is getting a good population of Walleyes they would most likley be showing up there as well.

Bill Powell

www.fredsbait.com

[jigglestick]

bill,

i have limited time on red's soft water, and i havn't noticed cormorants there. sort of surprising, though the longer they hold off, the better the fishing will be.

i can tell you i have noticed them flying in the spring alot more. the are fairly easy to identify in the air. they fly in the "v" formation like geese, but have an entirely different design. as much sitcking out behind the wings as in front for starters.

while working in the river valley in burnsville, i noticed huge flocks returning in the spring. hundreds of birds. i think it would be money well spent to try and trap those damned things while they are still in the large flocks in the spring. i think they disperse as the move northward, and become harder to manage.

damned fish eaters!!

[Lowe]

Seems like cormorants prefer lakes with lots of rocky islands and outcrops where they can loaf when they're not feeding. Upper Red is probably too wide open for their liking. If I remember right wasn't the DNR going to try some form of cormorant control on Leech?

[bigV]

it'd be a good idea to at least take them off the protected species list I think! we could shoot a bunch in the fall. I imagine they're no good eating though either so that may be tough to get done.

maybe they're good for something but i don't know what-??

[kelly-p]

There are quite a few in the spring during the spawning run. The Tamarac River fills up with cormerants and pelicans.

[bieganekbaitco]

Same as the Blackduck river & red lake river by the dam on lower red, lots of Cormerants & pelicans.

[scott-z]

Sounds like its time to go hunting! I bet a pelican would make a heck of a splash when it hit the water!

[bieganekbaitco]

How about sending a few to the food shelf, They're probably better eatin than what we find in a can of tuna!!!!!?????

[Greg Clusiau]

I think we're having our traditional roasted comorant for Christmas dinner again this year. That's some fine eatin'.

[kelly-p]

Yo Baitco, why don't you take a couple of them over to NINETOE and see if he can paint them up to look like woodducks for you?

[bieganekbaitco]

Now that is funny Maybe he can make chicken salad out of chicken s@*t.

Merry Christmas to everyone