Cormorants on Clearwater

[jigginjim]

The lake has a major population of this black fish eating birds. I watched then Sunday evening, fly into a area of the lake, each one that would dive down came up with fish. Could see that well to make out the fish.  I was catching perch and small walleyes in that area. perch (3 - 4 1/2 inch) Walleyes (9 -17"). I know these birds can swallow a 9inch walleye.

[IronDioPriest]

Great.

[dfv87]

They were on Augusta last summer, we talked about not seeing them this year... Maybe they are just a little east this year...

[JBMasterAngler]

I think it's a problem statewide! Every time I drive up the north shore of Lake Superior, I see more and more cormorants! I would love for nothing more than the DNR to set all roosting and nesting sites ablaze several years in a row to completely wipe out generations of these worthless birds!

[fishersofmen]

I guess I'm not sure where you stand JB.....

[JBMasterAngler]

I'm on the fence.

[jigginjim]

If it was only fish less than 4inchs it could thin the amount of small bait fish. But that's not the case.

[swampman]

I am with JB, if I were king there would be open season on the worthless things, besides being eating machines there feces is so acidic it kills every thing they nest around, not a tree or one green thing left on the island on pigeon lake south of Dassel where they used to nest, the islands on pelican lake were the same way before they went under water. They can eat a pretty good sized fish.

Oh, I feel the same way about pelicans too, not fond of blue herons or there frog spearing cousins the egret either.

[g_anoka]

I agree, something should be done about the number of cromerants on the lake.

Edited July 14, 2015 by Rick
Took out forum policy violation.

[jigginjim]

If only suppressors would legal, they be thinned out, just need a place to put them. Sort of like carp they seem to end up on shore anyways.

 

[dfv87]

I was thinking they came from Pelican... maybe we should keep pelican's water level up to keep the fish in there for these cormorants... we don't want to affect/change their flyway...

Edited July 14, 2015 by dfv87

[jbell1981]

If only suppressors would legal....... 

 

​

They will be legal starting August 1st.........

[jigginjim]

I was thinking they came from Pelican... maybe we should keep pelican's water level up to keep the fish in there for these cormorants... we don't want to affect/change their flyway...

You are so correct.   The lake is really draining, the must be up 2-4inches.  It has gotten weeder, but I don't see all the ducks that were to fly in a large lake.

 

Edited July 17, 2015 by jigginjim

[IronDioPriest]

How long have these birds been infesting Clearwater Lake? I've never noticed them until this year. Now I see them every time I'm out.

Finding Walleyes on Clearwater can be challenging enough. I hate to think about what a cormorant infestation might do to the Walleye population.

[jigginjim]

Thinking, want COULD be the chances these birds transfer veligers of zeebs?