Northwest Fishing Reports

I think these ducks are having a huge affect on my fishing. Lately I've been fishing for trout (usually just a little lure) mainly at Bradley Lake in Pierce County and I have found that when these ducks are not in the water I do pretty well, but when they're in the water fishing dies down for everybody. Does anybody know the patterns of these ducks as far as being in and out of the water goes?

I know that over in the Grant County area they wait to stock all their fingerlings until after the birds have migrated, wich is somewhere in the mid october - mid noveber time period, if I remeber correctly.

gpc wrote:I know that over in the Grant County area they wait to stock all their fingerlings until after the birds have migrated, wich is somewhere in the mid october - mid noveber time period, if I remeber correctly.

yeah, they just stalked Bradley a week or two ago and there are about 20-30 cormorants there just feasting on fish all day.
They also hang out right in the middle of the lake which I think is why when I'm catching something its very close to shore.

The WDFW started planting larger fish due to these birds. They can see much farther into the water than we can. They can clean out a small shallow lake. I saw many of them on Lake Stevens. Good thing the lake is deep. I also noticed the WDFW plants fry (under 3") on Stevens and that's a perfect meal for those cormorants.

I've seen these ducks all year and sometimes refer to them as Daffy Duck. I've assumed he's a cormorant.

Palmer wrote:The WDFW started planting larger fish due to these birds. They can see much farther into the water than we can. They can clean out a small shallow lake. I saw many of them on Lake Stevens. Good thing the lake is deep. I also noticed the WDFW plants fry (under 3") on Stevens and that's a perfect meal for those cormorants.

I've seen these ducks all year and sometimes refer to them as Daffy Duck. I've assumed he's a cormorant.

haha I just realized that daffy duck does resemble a cormorant. But yes that must be why Bradley's fishing dies after about a week. They stock it with those little 7-10 inch trout
So definently easy meal for those scavengers.

Awoods wrote:

Palmer wrote:The WDFW started planting larger fish due to these birds. They can see much farther into the water than we can. They can clean out a small shallow lake. I saw many of them on Lake Stevens. Good thing the lake is deep. I also noticed the WDFW plants fry (under 3") on Stevens and that's a perfect meal for those cormorants.

I've seen these ducks all year and sometimes refer to them as Daffy Duck. I've assumed he's a cormorant.

haha I just realized that daffy duck does resemble a cormorant. But yes that must be why Bradley's fishing dies after about a week. They stock it with those little 7-10 inch trout
So definently easy meal for those scavengers.

I saw them eating 9" trout with ease. I think they pass up the smaller ones. When I was first there I don't remember seeing them and I caught fish. The next time no fish and 8 or more cormorants. This last time on Sat. there were 20-30 and no fish until they left the water. Then the fish were in close to shore. I saw them diving all over.
I don't think these birds migrate from our area.

Toni wrote:

Awoods wrote:

Palmer wrote:The WDFW started planting larger fish due to these birds. They can see much farther into the water than we can. They can clean out a small shallow lake. I saw many of them on Lake Stevens. Good thing the lake is deep. I also noticed the WDFW plants fry (under 3") on Stevens and that's a perfect meal for those cormorants.

I've seen these ducks all year and sometimes refer to them as Daffy Duck. I've assumed he's a cormorant.

haha I just realized that daffy duck does resemble a cormorant. But yes that must be why Bradley's fishing dies after about a week. They stock it with those little 7-10 inch trout
So definently easy meal for those scavengers.

I saw them eating 9" trout with ease. I think they pass up the smaller ones. When I was first there I don't remember seeing them and I caught fish. The next time no fish and 8 or more cormorants. This last time on Sat. there were 20-30 and no fish until they left the water. Then the fish were in close to shore. I saw them diving all over.
I don't think these birds migrate from our area.

Do you remember what time it was when the ducks were not there?

I see them along the lake all day.They sit out by the I-90 bridge all day eating trout and smolt.I try to nail them from the house but there are too many yachts in the bay. One miss and some poor yachter would have a bad day.I harass them the best I can but unfotunately to no avail.

haha I just realized that daffy duck does resemble a cormorant. But yes that must be why Bradley's fishing dies after about a week. They stock it with those little 7-10 inch trout
So definently easy meal for those scavengers.[/quote]


I fished Bradley yesterday evening,there's a few trout jumping. But the birds have pretty much destroyed the"HOT"zone.

In Southeast Idaho, I know of one little spring fed lake that was decimated by those so called ducks. That lake was know for its fast growing conditions, the open water all year, and the general fun the kids had there.

Then the cormorant population grew and they started targeting the lake. Even the Fish and Game, off the record, wanted them killed off. BUT................... they are protected and are the kings ducks..................do don't kill the poor cormorant.

When I left the area in around 1994, the state was experimenting with planting Splake (a sterile hybrid between a lake trout and I think a brook trout), because they stayed on the bottom and would not give the cormorants a chance to get them.

I don't know how well it worked.

Awoods wrote:

Toni wrote:

Awoods wrote: haha I just realized that daffy duck does resemble a cormorant. But yes that must be why Bradley's fishing dies after about a week. They stock it with those little 7-10 inch trout
So definently easy meal for those scavengers.

I saw them eating 9" trout with ease. I think they pass up the smaller ones. When I was first there I don't remember seeing them and I caught fish. The next time no fish and 8 or more cormorants. This last time on Sat. there were 20-30 and no fish until they left the water. Then the fish were in close to shore. I saw them diving all over.
I don't think these birds migrate from our area.

Do you remember what time it was when the ducks were not there?

I think it was noonish

Not all,but put a huge hole in the population.

Toni wrote:My son and I went tonight to Bradley Lake after drivers ed. No Fish-No Cormorant. Then we both lost our lures in the trees-time to go home. We only stayed about 1/2 hour. So have they eaten the 2000 trout that were planted?

yeah, I tried this morning and got 1 right away but none after that. Too bad the lakes population goes away so quickly.
Oh well, American Lake is heating up alot, so that is where I will be doing my fishing.