1 of 23

Little Boy / Wabedo Lakes Fisheries Update 2025

2 of 23

Wabedo Creek culvert replacement

  • Trap net placed downstream 4/13/2024 – 4/14/2024
    • 14 Walleye
    • 3 Northern Pike
  • Water levels too low for upstream net
    • 6.1” deep in left
    • 4.1” deep in right
    • Maintains adequate depth for fish passage during drought conditions.

​

3 of 23

Little Boy

  • Standard Survey (GN&TN) 6/24/2024
  • YOY Walleye 9/15/2024

​

Wabedo

  • Standard Survey (GN&TN) 7/8/2024
  • YOY Walleye 9/11/2024

4 of 23

Bluegill

  • Highest trap net catch rate since 1990.

​

​

  • Size structure lowest since 1990.
  • Lengths 1.9” – 8.1” (5.6” average)

​

​

  • 115 aged - Ages 1-9 (82% age-3)
  • Growth exceeds Walker-Area mean.

​

​

​

​

5 of 23

Northern Pike

  • Gill net catch rates lowest since 2006.
    • Pre-reg 7.25/net
    • Post-reg 7.78/net

​

​

  • Size structure similar to 2021
  • Down from initial surveys following reg.
    • Pre-reg RSD-P 2.1
    • Post-reg RSD-P 10.3

​

6 of 23

Smallmouth Bass

  • Gill net catch rate declined from 2018 and 2021.

​

​

​

  • Size structure remains excellent.

7 of 23

Walleye

  • Gill net catch rate remains above minimum management goal.

​

  • Highest number of fish ≥ 18.0 inches recorded.

8 of 23

Walleye

  • Highest YOY catch rate since 2018.

9 of 23

Yellow Perch

  • Gill net catch rate below minimum management goal.
  • Decreased growth

10 of 23

Bluegill

  • Highest trap net catch rate since 2012.

​

​

  • Size structure lowest since 2015.
  • Lengths 3.1” - 8.0” (5.0” average)

​

​

  • 92 aged - Ages 2-9 (68% age-4)
  • Growth below Walker-Area mean.

​

​

​

11 of 23

Northern Pike

  • Gill net catch rate highest on record
    • Pre-reg 4.60 fish/net
    • Post-reg 7.68 fish/net

​

  • Size structure lowest since 1985
    • Pre-reg RSD-P 11.5
    • Post-reg RSD-P 13.0

12 of 23

Smallmouth Bass

  • Gill net catch rate decreased from 2021.

​

​

​

​

  • Size structure remains excellent.

13 of 23

Walleye

  • Gill net catch rate highest since 2012.

​

​

​

​

  • Highest number of fish ≥ 18.0 inches recorded.

14 of 23

Walleye

  • Highest YOY catch rate on record

​

​

​

​

15 of 23

Yellow Perch

  • Highest gill net catch rate since 2009

​

​

​

​

  • Slight declines in growth rate

​

​

​

16 of 23

Cisco

  • Little Boy historically variable catches, Wabedo decline in 2009.
  • Management implication?

​

17 of 23

Future DNR Planned Activities

  • Walleye fry stocking: Little Boy – 466,000 Wabedo – 295,000 (even years)
  • Smallmouth/Largemouth bass EF – Spring (before management plan revision in 2028).
  • Standard Survey: Little Boy - 6/24/2027 Wabedo – 7/8/2027
  • YOY Walleye EF – Fall (annual)
  • Temperature monitor – below ice (annual)
  • Lake Management Plan Revision (2028)
    • Northern Pike Reg – modify?
    • Walleye Reg – modify? Discontinue?

​

​

​

​

18 of 23

Are Yellow Perch getting smaller?

  • What causes perch population size structure to decrease?
    1. Response to population stress – mortality
    2. Mature at younger age – more mature individuals increases production
    3. Growth declines after maturation
  • How do we test for it?
    • Growth rates decline
    • 80% or more of gill net sample is female
    • Maximum length sampled is ˂ 8.0 inches
    • Maturity schedules increase

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

19 of 23

Are Yellow Perch getting smaller?

  • How do we test for it?
    1. Growth rates decline – Yes, both lakes
    2. 80% or more of gill net sample is female – 96% Wabedo, 88% Little Boy
    3. Maximum length sampled is ˂ 8.0 inches – 11.1” Wabedo, 10.4” Little Boy
    4. Maturity schedules increase – Need to collect perch ˂ 140mm (5.5”) for age, growth, and maturity

​

​

Case study: Horseshoe Lake (Cass County)

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

20 of 23

Horseshoe Lake

23 total Yellow Perch sampled in 5 fine-mesh gill nets (4.60 fish/net)

2.3” – 7.3” (4.5” average)

4 YOY

All fish sexually mature at Age-1

1 YOY mature male

21 of 23

Little Boy / Wabedo

  • Yellow Perch CPUE long-term median = 30.83 fish/net
    • Management goal ≥ 20.00 fish/net
  • Walleye CPUE long-term median = 9.70 fish/net
    • Management goal ≥ 8.00 fish/net
  • Yellow Perch CPUE long-term median = 22.13 fish/net
    • Management goal ≥ 20.00 fish/net
  • Walleye CPUE long-term median = 3.33 fish/net
    • Management goal ≥ 4.00 fish/net

22 of 23

Forward Facing Sonar

  • Leech Lake and Boy Lake creels summer 2024
    • Question was asked “did you use electronics on your outing, if so what (2D down imaging, side imaging, forward facing sonar)

​

23 of 23

Contact Information

Wade Massure – Area Supervisor

(218) 552-2338

Wade.Massure@state.mn.us

​

​

​

Jody Derks – Assistant Area Supervisor

(218) 552-2332

Jody.Derks@state.mn.us

​