The Walleye (Sander vitreus)
About Walleye
The walleye (Sander vitreus), often known as the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, is a perciform freshwater fish native to much of Canada and the northern United States. It is a close relative of the European zander, often known as the pikeperch, in North America. To distinguish it from the blue walleye, which was once prevalent in southern Ontario and Quebec but is now thought extinct, the walleye is often referred to as the yellow walleye. Recent genetic research of a preserved (frozen) ‘blue walleye’ sample, on the other hand, reveals that the blue and yellow walleye are essentially phenotypes of the same species, and thus do not require distinct taxonomic classification.
The walleye is known as a pickerel in sections of its distribution in English-speaking Canada, despite the fact that it is not related to actual pickerels, which are members of the Esocidae family. There is a lot of variance in walleyes among watersheds. In general, fish within a watershed are genetically distinct from those in neighboring watersheds. For over a century, the species has been intentionally propagated and planted on top of existing populations or brought into waterways that are naturally barren of the species, diminishing the genetic distinctiveness of populations.
Physical Appearance
Walleye have a white underside and are often dark olive and yellowish-gold in appearance. They have a more greenish-grey color in certain places of Canada. They have a spiny dorsal fin and several sharp teeth, but its most distinctive feature may be their marble-like eyes, which reflect light and let them to hunt at night.
Size and Length
Walleyes can reach lengths of over 35 inches (89 cm) and weights of up to 20 pounds (9 kg). The largest ever taken was 42 inches (106.7 cm) long and weighed 25 pounds (11.3 kg) in 1960 in Tennessee.
Geographic Range
It can be found in most of Canada, as well as the northern and eastern United States, as far south as Alabama.
Habitat
Walleye enjoy water temperatures in the middle range, which means they aren’t as fond of frigid water as trout are, or the warmer waters that bass love. The murkier the water, the better for walleye, as it facilitates the pursuit of smaller fish. Walleye can swim in clean water, but prefer to stay near river mouths if at all possible.
Life Span and Growth Rate
It all depends on where the walleye is raised. Because of the longer, warmer seasons in southern waters, walleye develop more quickly, yet they rarely live past the age of ten. Walleye develop more slowly in cooler waters, although they can live up to 20 years.
Food Habits
Yellow perch, minnows, crayfish, andms, and insects are also prey for this fearsome predator. Walleye prefer to feed at dawn or dusk and rarely swim during the day, though they will come out to feed under cloudy conditions.
Spawning
Males mature between the ages of three and four, while females take an extra year. Walleye spawn on rock or gravel in the early spring, primarily where there is a current that can supply oxygen to the eggs. Typically, spawning takes place in shallow places along the shore.
Predators
Walleye have few natural predators, but larger muskies, particularly northern pike, will take a bite off of a small enough walleye.
Top Five Walleye Fishing Tips
- Jig and Live Bait Combination
I’m not sure what to say. A jig and live bait presentation has undoubtedly caught more walleyes than all other lures and baits combined. Jigs can kill you. The reason for this is that a jig is unobtrusive, but by varying its weight – from 1/16-ounce for shallow water to 3/4-ounce for deep water or strong current – you can cover all of the many possibilities. You can also choose a colour to turn on the walleyes when they are colour conscious. When it comes to live bait, the cardinal rule is to utilize minnows when the water is chilly in the spring and fall. When the water temperature rises into the 60s and 70s, leeches become more effective, while nightcrawlers take over in the warmest water. Still, I like to have all three bait alternatives on hand and let the fish decide what they want to eat on any given day at the end of my jig.
- Bottom Bouncer and Spinner Combination
Walleyes go crazy over spinner rigs, crawler harnesses, or whatever you want to name them. Leeches and minnows prefer single hook harnesses, but nightcrawlers prefer two and three hook harnesses. Experiment with different blade shapes, sizes, and colours. Willowleaf blades spin the quickest and provide the greatest flash, but they’re also the quietest. Colorado blades, on the other hand, spin at a considerably slower pace but pound hard. Indiana blades are in the middle, making them a great way to start the day. When you need to shout out to the walleyes to let them know meal is ready, large blades are perfect in dark and gloomy water. Large blades are also ideal when the fish are of a larger size. When the water is clear and the fish are in a bad mood, don’t overlook smaller blades. Finally, nothing beats a bottom bouncer when it comes to presenting a spinning rig. Just be careful not to drag the bouncer. Allow the line to dangle until you can feel it ticking at the bottom every now and again. This indicates that you’re troll fishing with your harness in front of the fish.
- Slow Death
Because it is so dangerous, slow death walleye fishing is sweeping the country. Walleye anglers used to be obsessive about attaching their baits absolutely straight so they wouldn’t spin. How quickly things have changed. Slow Death entails using a hook with a pronounced bend (Mustad makes the most popular Slow Death hook, while many fishermen prefer a #2 Aberdeen Tru-Turn type). Then, thread on your nightcrawler (a live crawler works OK, although a Gulp! or Trigger X worm is typically preferable) such that the head covers the hook eye and the body takes on the hook’s shape. The crawler is then snipped off, leaving barely an inch or so hanging beyond the hook’s bend. It’s recommended to troll at around 1 mile per hour with a three to four foot long, 10-pound test leader behind a bottom bouncer. The walleyes can’t get enough of the finger-sized crawler chunk spinning like a corkscrew. When fishing in 10-feet or less of water, use a 1-ounce bottom bouncer, a 2-ounce bouncer in 20-feet of water, and a 3-ounce bouncer in 30-feet of water, according to the conventional rule of thumb. However, keep in mind that they are just suggestions; don’t be afraid to try new things.
- Swimbaits
In the last 7 or 8 years, I’ve caught more ten-pound walleyes on swimbaits than all of the other walleye options together. You won’t believe how we’ve got them rigged. We’re utilising jig heads that are 1/2-, 3/4-, and 1-ounce saltwater style bullet shaped. Swimbaits in the five and six inch range (X-Zone Swammers, Berkley Hollow Belly and Split Belly Swimbaits) are the most effective. A 7-foot medium heavy action spinning rod spooled with a quality 14-pound test braided line is also required (Sufix, Fireline or PowerPro). Then tie a two to three foot long 15-pound test fluorocarbon leader with back-to-back uniknots. You can cast this set up a mile because of the weight of your terminal tackle, and it sinks swiftly. Lift your rod tip after it reaches the bottom and begin swimming the lure back to the boat. As you drop your rod tip to pick up line, keep it within a foot of the bottom at all times, ticking it occasionally. 90 percent of walleyes will accept your bait during that little wait. It is, without a doubt, the most lethal big walleye pattern ever devised.
- Casting Crankbaits onto Shallow, Windy, Rock Structures
When the going gets tough in the summer, one of the most reliable walleye patterns – for both numbers and trophy size fish – is to look for shallow, rocky features such as underwater points, reefs, and rock heaps. The “sea gull rocks,” which just barely break the surface of the water, are frequently the best. When the wind blows on them, they really come into their own. Even in the middle of the day, walleyes will slip up shallow and feed fiercely under the waves. As a result, there’s no need to be tippy-toeing with this presentation. Choose a crankbait that will run just a little deeper than the water you’re fishing in. As you bang bottom and ricochet it off the rocks all the way back to the boat, you’ll attract and trigger walleyes. It’s as easy as that. Cast your crankbait up shallow and begin retrieving, pausing for a second or two every time your crankbait strikes a rock. As it rises up and over the impediment, it is usually devoured by walleyes. The key is to use a crankbait that is buoyant enough to float up and over the rocks when you pause the retrieve (my favourite is the time-tested Rapala Shad Rap).
What Makes Walleye Fishing Fun?
Although walleyes don’t put up as much of a struggle as other game fish, the challenge of finding the appropriate lure and presentation to get them to bite makes them a pleasant fish to pursue. When it comes to walleye, it’s a good idea to ask around for advice because they’re a crafty fish with a lot of tricks up their sleeves. If you’re wanting to eat what you catch, the benefits can be worth it, as walleyes are one of the best-tasting freshwater fish available. Because walleye are nocturnal fish, fishing at night, dawn, or dusk is your best bet for catching this famous species. Reeling in a walleye at night and seeing its eyes flash as you bring it in close to surface is one of the more enjoyable aspects of freshwater fishing.
Because walleyes have such strong teeth, caution is advised when fishing for them, especially with children. Kids will enjoy attempting to catch this fish, but be careful not to approach too close to its mouth. Always keep a first-aid kit with bandages on hand just in case. As long as you’re safe, you shouldn’t have any issues.
Where Is Walleye Fishing Possible?
It is not uncommon to see people going for rather big fish by shore fishing walleye along lakes and rivers. They tend to prefer slower moving and darker water, and the more bait fish in that body of water the more likely the walleye population is healthy.
Lakes in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio in the United States have some of the best walleye fishing in North America. Walleye fishing on Lake Erie is one of the most popular in the world, especially in the springtime in the Detroit River’s Western Basin.
In Canada, walleye fishing is ideal in the province of Ontario’s many lakes and rivers. During the spring and fall months, the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario, for example, offers trophy walleye. Another popular activity is ice fishing for walleye, with the French River being one of the greatest spots in Canada.
What To Keep In Mind When Walleye Fishing
If you’re going after these large fish, you’ll want to brush up on your walleye fishing methods first. When it comes to walleye fishing lures, there are a lot of different schools of thought, so you’ll have to figure out which one is best for you. Gord Pyzer’s five pointers are an excellent place to start and will guarantee you plenty of walleyes. Trolling using crankbaits, particularly those shaped like minnows, is another alternative. Jigging with nightcrawlers, minnows, and leeches, as previously indicated, is an excellent live bait option. Shiners have become one of the most popular walleye minnows, however they should not be used for ice fishing.
When their victim is visually weak, walleyes love feeding. This means that twilight is the perfect time to fish because the transition from day to night causes chaos on fish with poor vision in the water, which is exactly what a walleye desires. Furthermore, the more choppy the water, the better. Anglers call to this type of water as “walleye chop,” since the turbulent conditions make for greater walleye hunting. You’re as good as gold for catching walleye if you go out at twilight and there are waves in the water.
Finally, seeking the guidance of a seasoned angler with a wealth of walleye fishing knowledge will only help you improve as a fisherman. You’ll bring in more if you pick up more.
Cultural Aspects
The walleye is the official province fish of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as the state fish of Minnesota, Vermont, and South Dakota.
It is extremely popular among Minnesota inhabitants; more walleye is consumed in Minnesota than in any other state. Garrison and Baudette, Minnesota, each claim to be the “Walleye Capital of the World,” boasting enormous statues of the fish in their respective towns.
References
- NatureServe (2013). “Sander vitreus”. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T202605A18229159. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202605A18229159.en. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). Sander &speciesname= vitreum” Sander vitreum “ in FishBase. December 2019 version.
- http://www.ontariofishes.ca/fish_detail.php?FID=151
- “Le doré bleu existe!”. lapresse.ca. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- Haponski, Amanda E.; Stepien, Carol A. (2014). “A population genetic window into the past and future of the walleye Sander vitreus: relation to historic walleye and the extinct “blue pike” S. v. “glaucus””. Giornale della Libreria. 14 (1): 133. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-14-133. PMC 4229939. PMID 24941945. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- Crossman, E.J. “Walleye – The Canadian Encyclopedia”. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- “Walleye biology and identification”. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- Northern Wisconsin All-Outdoors Atlas & Field Guide. Sportsman’s Connection. 2012. p. 5.
- “In-Fisherman – The World’s Foremost Authority On Freshwater Fishing”. In-Fisherman. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- Anderson, R. O.; Neumann, R. M. (1996). “Length, Weight, and Associated Structural Indices”. In Murphy, B. E.; Willis, D. W. (eds.). Fisheries Techniques (Second ed.). Bethesda, MD: American Fisheries Society. ISBN 1-888569-00-X.
- Wilson, Malik (12 February 2021). “Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery spearheading walleye population control project”. KX NEWS. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- Carol A. Stepien & Amanda Haponski (2015). “Taxonomy, Distribution, and Evolution of the Percidae”. In Patrick Kestemont; Konrad Dabrowski & Robert C. Summerfelt (eds.). Biology and Culture of Percid Fishes. Springer, Dordrecht. pp. 3–60. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-7227-3_1. ISBN 978-94-017-7227-3.
- Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). “Perca vitrea”. Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- “Walleye, Sander vitreus”. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), State of Michigan. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
- Field and Stream July 2005
- Joe Fellegy, Jr., Walleyes and Walleye Fishing (Dillon Press, 1974), 57, 58
- International Game and Fish Association (1960). “IGFA All-Tackle World Record”. IGFA. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- Nicholson, Karen (May 2007). “A History of Manitoba’s Commercial Fishery 1872-2005” (PDF). Manitoba Historic Resources Branch. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- “Walleyed War of the Walleye Capitals”. RoadsideAmerica.com. Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins.