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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
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    Reside in Columbus, OH. Have place in Perrysburg, OH.
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    Default Cormorants / wind forecast

    FYI - Have a buddy hunting Magee Marsh this morning (I couldn't go) so I decided to check the local Lake web cams. Holly Toledo! I watched the Catawba web cam from 7:50am to about 8am, only because the flights of Cormorants flying north to south, just off the water, nearly never stopped. It was nearly a solid line of flights. I'd estimate the number at around 20,000. No joke. Then I switched to the Port Clinton camera. Same thing, long line of Cormorant flights going west along the shoreline, although it only lasted about 15 seconds. I only watched for about 30 seconds. This is probably the largest number of Cormorants I've ever seen on the Lake, and I saw the huge flocks back in the late 1980's early 1990's before the Feds did the first big cull. It's possible a lot of these are migrants from up north.

    Wind forecast doesn't look good the rest of the week. Unless it moves up 6-8 hours from the present forecast, the only day to get out will probably be Sunday or maybe Saturday early evening. At least Saturday and Sunday the direction is forecast from the SE or S.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
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    Avon Lake
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    Quote Originally Posted by West Basin View Post
    FYI - Have a buddy hunting Magee Marsh this morning (I couldn't go) so I decided to check the local Lake web cams. Holly Toledo! I watched the Catawba web cam from 7:50am to about 8am, only because the flights of Cormorants flying north to south, just off the water, nearly never stopped. It was nearly a solid line of flights. I'd estimate the number at around 20,000. No joke. Then I switched to the Port Clinton camera. Same thing, long line of Cormorant flights going west along the shoreline, although it only lasted about 15 seconds. I only watched for about 30 seconds. This is probably the largest number of Cormorants I've ever seen on the Lake, and I saw the huge flocks back in the late 1980's early 1990's before the Feds did the first big cull. It's possible a lot of these are migrants from up north.

    Wind forecast doesn't look good the rest of the week. Unless it moves up 6-8 hours from the present forecast, the only day to get out will probably be Sunday or maybe Saturday early evening. At least Saturday and Sunday the direction is forecast from the SE or S.
    I don't know where they are coming from but I witnessed the same thing a couple years ago while perch fishing off the Catawba Cliffs. It was really amazing.

    I hunted Pickerel Creek on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. We saw a lot of cormorants but nothing like you describe. That said, I would love either another culling or an open season on those pests.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    We were casting on mill point on east side of Pelee on Sept 16th.Saw a nonstop line of cormorants flying low in a line headed north.Assume they all came off middle island.Watched nonstop line for at least 20 min.Had to be thousands of birds in that flock.

  4. #4
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    Jul 2020
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    I'm from mid Ohio so never heard of this bird before. Just read the bird can eat 1.5 pounds of fish a day and can dive 150 feet.

  5. #5
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    Jun 2020
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    Quote Originally Posted by badboards View Post
    I'm from mid Ohio so never heard of this bird before. Just read the bird can eat 1.5 pounds of fish a day and can dive 150 feet.
    A few years ago there was a story about authorities catching one and cutting it open. Found DOZENS of swallowed perch in its stomach. They're a nuisance and a half

  6. #6
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    Jul 2022
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    Wasn't sure what a cormorant was, so I looked up. Crazy Interesting Fact that can be hard on the fishery: Cormorants are expert divers. Some dive as deep as 45 metres (150 feet). They speed along underwater via their webbed feet, using their wings as rudders. Some colonies of cormorants have been observed herding fish for more efficient hunting.

  7. #7
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    Jan 2014
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    Port Clinton, OH
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    Saw the same thing back on October 4th....we were out in front of the state ramp at Catawba, and watched thousands fly in and land by Clinton Reef, and that area. Then, a while later...they flew back northeast. The line of them flying in last about 20 minutes. I've seen it before, but my crew had never seen that many before.
    Captain Julia "Juls" Davis
    [email protected]
    www.julswalleyefishingadventures.com
    https://www.facebook.com/JulsWFA?ref=br_rs
    Specializing in 1-3 person walleye and perch charters

  8. #8
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    Jul 2009
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    Quote Originally Posted by markle View Post
    Wasn't sure what a cormorant was, so I looked up. Crazy Interesting Fact that can be hard on the fishery: Cormorants are expert divers. Some dive as deep as 45 metres (150 feet). They speed along underwater via their webbed feet, using their wings as rudders. Some colonies of cormorants have been observed herding fish for more efficient hunting.
    They are excellent fisherbirds...have had them in my pond. Almost cleaned out my bluegill population in a couple months and that was just two birds !! Took necessary steps to stop them and my bluegill population us comming back slowly. When ever I see one, I do whatever I can to get them out of the area...

  9. #9
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    Jun 2008
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    columbus ohio
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    I found a little one on the side of the road here in Columbus I took it back to the shop at the time I was not familiar with the bird so did not really know what it was, we kept it in a tire test tank for a couple of days till it was stronger it loved the soft craws I had left over from small mouth fishing , after it was strong enough to put back in the lake I dropped it off at a local reservoir here in Columbus, they are pretty cool birds can dive and swim under water . I also have watched the line of birds that seem to stretch for miles as they fly by in perfect formation. certainly, a marvel of God's creation!

  10. #10
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    Jun 2020
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    Default Re: Cormorants / wind forecast

    Quote Originally Posted by airshot View Post
    They are excellent fisherbirds...have had them in my pond. Almost cleaned out my bluegill population in a couple months and that was just two birds !! Took necessary steps to stop them and my bluegill population us comming back slowly. When ever I see one, I do whatever I can to get them out of the area...
    I'm pretty sure you can "hunt" them in MI and North of the border. For some reason, they're protected in the buckeye state and it's ridiculous


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