Michigan DNR night crews start fall walleye electrofishing surveys

Michigan crews are back on inland lakes after dark to count this year’s walleye. A Department of Natural Resources release dated Sept. 15, 2026, says nighttime young-of-year surveys run from late September into mid-October, which puts the boats on the water through this stretch of the fall.

Electrofishing crews work shallow shoreline water at night, when young walleye move in from the cooler depths they use during the day. Larger lakes may have two or more boats out at once. The surveys cover lakes that were stocked and lakes that were not. Most fish go back where they were caught. From stocked lakes, biologists keep a sample of young-of-year so Michigan State University can compare their genetics with broodstock and sort wild reproduction from hatchery fish. Those counts feed later stocking and regulation calls.

Tribal natural resource departments are surveying with the DNR and on their own. In the Upper Peninsula, the U.S. Forest Service is doing the same on Hiawatha National Forest lakes, building a longer walleye record. If you are fishing or wading near a survey boat, give it room. Crews run bright lights and generators, and they will ask anyone in the water to get out while the boat is working. Contacts: Emily Martin, 231-495-1310, and John Bauman, 906-786-2351.

Photo: Michigan DNR.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Michigan DNR — DNR checks on young walleye with upcoming fall electrofishing surveys (Sept. 15, 2026).