Electrofishing boats will light up Michigan lakes after dark starting in late September as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) begins nighttime walleye surveys that run through mid-October.

The crews are targeting young-of-year walleye, fish that hatched in spring 2026, to figure out how many are present and whether they were born in the wild or came from state stocking programs. The data will shape future stocking and management decisions across the state, the Soo Leader reported.

Walleye move from deep, cool water during the day into shallow, nearshore areas at night. That behavioral pattern makes after-dark electrofishing the most efficient way to sample them. On larger lakes, two or more boat crews may operate at the same time to cover more water.

Tribal natural resource departments will run some surveys alongside DNR crews and will also conduct independent counts. The DNR co-manages fisheries with tribal units under consent decrees, according to the agency's fisheries division.

The USDA Forest Service will collaborate on surveys and run its own counts in the Hiawatha National Forest, which offers fishing on more than 75 inland lakes and 600 miles of streams. The Forest Service effort aims to build long-term population datasets for inland lakes managed for walleye, according to the DNR announcement.

Why it matters to anglers

Walleye is among the most harvested species in Michigan waters of the Great Lakes, according to the DNR's 2025 Great Lakes angler survey. The DNR's Fisheries Division spends 31% of its annual budget on fish rearing and stocking. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, that cost topped $11 million, according to the DNR.

The state operates only six fish hatcheries, which limits how much walleye it can produce. Biologists will collect tissue samples from young walleye caught in stocked lakes and send them to Michigan State University for genetic analysis. Comparing the genetics of young fish to broodstock will help the DNR measure how well its stocking program is working versus natural reproduction.

All walleye not kept for sampling will be released.

Safety notice for boaters and waders

The DNR warned that survey boats will use bright lights to illuminate the water and run onboard generators. The noise may make it hard for crews to hear anyone on shore. Waders will be asked to leave the water when a survey boat approaches. Boaters and anglers should use caution near electrofishing operations.

The surveys run from late September through mid-October. The DNR did not release a list of specific lakes or exact dates.