Per the 2018 Lake Management plan, yearly electrofishing studies are done to measure Young of Year (YOY) walleye. YOY is defined as walleye that were born in the spring of that year and made it through their first summer. The studies measure the number and size of YOY.  Larger sized YOY are more likely to make it through their first winter. The study is typically completed in September. This is one of two ways that the DNR measures walleye year classes.   

The other measurement is done every three years as part of the Full Survey.  All fish are measured and aged to determine what year they were born. The two measurements are used to evaluate the success of fry stocking and natural reproduction. Walleye fry are stocked in both lakes every other spring on even years. Walleye born on odd years are, therefore, from natural reproduction only. 

For 2025 in Little Boy four (4) YOY and 49 one-year old walleye were sampled. In Wabedo one (1) YOY and 14 one-year old walleye were sampled. A high number of one- year olds indicates that the 2024 year class (stocked) is doing well. The small numbers of YOY sampled in 2025 indicates that there was limited natural reproduction in both lakes.