How many trout do these diving birds really eat?

[phil]

i did a driveby today, I counted at least 12, and 2 ospreys hovering over everything, never saw them dive on anything though, was really hoping to see that

[Tightlines74]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

I caught a few largies in colonial last yr, about 2 lbs each, on white spinnerbaits ripped along the bank by the boat launch. There was a bunch elsewhere cruising around but wouldn't take.

You are correct on the number of cormorants over there. For a lake of that size, it has easily got to be the most densely populated with those birds. They'll wipe out half of the stocked fish by tomorrow...if not more.

I used to live 5 minutes from colonial and i can echo your statement about the number of cormorants there.

Today i scouted out a small stocked lake in Monmouth co and struck up a conversation with park ranger, he estimates that the cormorants there will take 1/3-1/2 of the stocked trout. This to me beyond ridiculous given the $ spent on licences and trout stamps and the time and effort the DoW&G puts into trout stocking.

[justin1982]

Today a state volunteer was taking a fish and cormorant count, he mentioned that people were complaining that they are eating all the trout so possibly the state is trying to alleviate the problem?