Wabedo Lake

Wabedo Lake Fishery Information

Wabedo Lake (DOW# 11-0171; Lake Class 22) is a 1,226 acre lake located near Longville, MN. There is a DNR owned public access on the southwest shore. Wabedo Lake is connected to Little Boy Lake (DOW# 11-0167; Lake Class 22) via a short navigable channel. Wabedo Lake has 11.32 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 95 feet.  The lake was mapped in July, 1953. 

Protected Slot Limit (special regulation) for Northern Pike of 24" to 36", three in possession with one over 36" allowed in possession was implemented in 2003. 

Protected Slot Limit for Walleye of 18” to 26’, possession limit four with one over 26" allowed in possession was implemented was implemented in 2018.

Wabedo Lake is a multi-species lake with the potential to produce trophy size fish. 

• Muskellunge up to 50 inches were sampled in the spring of 2015, with several fish in the sample between 36-44 inches long. 

• Walleye numbers are down compared to previous surveys, large fish are present. Walleye lengths ranged from 8 to 28 inches.

• Northern Pike are also abundant  with pike sampled from 14 to 38 inches long. Most Northern Pike were between 18 and 27 inches long. 

• Largemouth Bass are moderately abundant and bass up to 17 inches long were sampled. 

• Smallmouth Bass is at low density population with fish up to 19 inches long present. 

• Black Crappie can also provide additional fishing opportunity but they may be difficult to locate. 

• Black Crappie ranged in length from 4 to 13 inches long. 

• Bluegill were generally small with few fish exceeding 8 inches long. 

• Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter include Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.

2020 Update

On Wabedo Lake the DNR will begin stocking 1,000 fry per littoral acre (295,000) on even numbered years beginning in 2020. This is a fairly major change in stocking strategy. Starting in 2006 the DNR has been stocking 590lbs of fingerlings in Wabedo on even number years. No fry have been stocked in Wabedo since 2004. The walleye results from the 2015 and 2018 surveys were poor in regard to numbers, recruitment and growth rates, leading the DNR to conclude that fingerling stocking hasn’t been successful.

• The DNR cancelled its walleye egg harvest statewide in 2020 and therefore will not be stocking any walleye in 2020.   The DNR indicates that it will stock walleye fry in 2021 to make up for the missed year, and then stock on even years per the current 10 year management plan.

• The DNR will be conducting a Creel survey on Little Boy and Wabedo lake the summer of 2020.   The creel survey consists of face-to-face interviews of anglers to determine: what species are being targeted, fishing pressure, basic demographic information (age, number of people per party, where anglers reside, etc.).

• The DNR will be conducting a fall electrofishing study targeting Young of Year (YOY) walleye in September 2020.  The purpose is to help assess walleye fry stocking, natural reproduction and the effect of the 18”-26” walleye slot limit on reproduction.

• Watercraft inspectors are scheduled at the public access on both Little Boy and Wabedo lakes this summer, and will be following social distancing guidelines.

• The Lake Association is coordinating water quality testing of Little Boy, Wabedo and tributaries again this summer, as we’ve been doing for many years.  

• Lake Association board members have trained to become Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors and will be sampling our lakes several times this summer.

 Wabedo Lake Fisheries Management Plans 

The most recent DNR fisheries lake survey was completed in July, 2018 (previously surveyed in 2015 and 2012 and various other prior years as shown below).

Wabedo - DNR Fisheries Management Plans

• Wabedo Fisheries Mgmt Plan 2019

• Wabedo Fisheries Mgmt Plan 2013 

  • • Wabedo Fisheries Mgmt Plan 2013 Workbook

    • Wabedo Fisheries Mgmt Plan 2013 Attachments

• Wabedo Fisheries Mgmt Plan 2008

Wabedo Lake Stocking History

Gill Net Results

The mean length and weight are shown for the fishery:

 The PSD and RSD-P measure the size structure of a fishery and the relative weights also indicate fishery size structure.

 Wabedo CPUE and Length Distributions per Species

2018 Gill netting done by DNR in July 2018 Mike Fresvik rode along with the DNR. Others viewed from their personal boats. 

2016 Walleye Fingerling Stocking

590 pounds of fingerlings were stocked (fish about 6 inches long) 

2008 Update

In 2008 (Sep30-Oct03), 590 pounds of walleye fingerlings (26/lb) were stocked and in 2010 another 590 pounds of fingerlings were stocked. In 2011, the DNR agreed to extend the current stocking plan through 2012 so we should receive another 590 pounds of fIngerlings in 2012 and every other year thereafter.

2006 Update

In 2006, 700 pounds of fingerlings/adults were stocked in the fall (Wabedo should normally receive 590 pounds of fingerlings). The 2006 stocking contained 566 yearlings weighing 134 pounds, 7,919 fingerlings weighing 443 pounds, and 101 adults weighing 123 pounds.