While walleye and zander may be related, they’re two completely different fish in nearly every aspect, except for maybe appearance. These two are some of the larger fish in their family. While walleye are compared to a lot of other fish (we mean a lot of other fish), the zander is more closely related to the walleye than all of the other fish that it is compared to.
If you plan on fishing for walleye or zander, keep on reading to learn what makes these fish different from one another.
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Walleye and Zander Similarities in Appearance
When looking at a walleye and a zander that are roughly the same size, you’ll be hard pressed to tell them apart from one another. Both fish have the same coloration, being a gold or olive in their main color. Across their back they’ll have dark brown or black bands, and their undersides will be white or silver in color.
Physically, both walleye and zander look like the same fish, as well. They have thick, powerful bodies, and they have a very large mouth. In that mouth, you’ll find plenty of sharp, needle-like teeth, as well as a few canines that are more prominent than the other teeth in their mouths. Behind these mouths you’ll find the eyes of the fish that the walleye is actually named after. Both walleye and zander have a reflective layer in the backs of their eyes called a tapetum lucidum. This reflective layer lets the fish gather more light in the dark, making them almost entirely nocturnal.
Looking at the rest of the body of the fish you’ll find two dorsal fins and one anal fin. The first dorsal fin is spiny, while the second one is soft-rayed. The anal fin is also soft-rayed on both fish. Overall, you can see that the two fish are almost identical if they’re at the same size. That’s where the biggest difference is, however.
Walleye and Zander Differences in Appearance
The only noticeable difference in the appearance between these two fish is their size. Now, like we said before, if you were to bring a zander and a walleye into the boat and both were the same size, you’d have trouble telling them apart. Now, if you were to bring in something that you thought was a walleye, but it seemed to be a gargantuan specimen, then it’s likely that you’ve got a zander in your boat.
The average size of a walleye is between 16 and 18 inches, though they can reach lengths of 24 inches at times. The walleye normally only weighs between 2 to 3 pounds as well, sometimes reaching about 7 pounds in larger fish.
The zander, on the other hand, is a much larger fish, with the average length being between 15 and 30 inches in length. The largest examples of zander are about 42 inches in length, though. They can get to be quite massive. Additionally, the average weight of the zander is anywhere between 4 and 8 pounds, but the bigger fish can weigh up to 30 pounds. These fish get big.
Walleye and Zander Behavior
Walleye and zander tend to behave in a nearly identical manner. They’re both primarily nocturnal fish, feeding between dusk and dawn. They tend to school, and will hunt prey fish in packs when they are smaller. The larger fish act somewhat independently, however, and will cannibalize smaller members of the school when food becomes scarce.
Walleye Range
Walleye are found in many waterways and reservoirs across the continent of North America. They can be found as far south as Georgia and Alabama, and as far north as the Arctic Circle in Canada. They cover the continent from coast to coast. In Canada they can be found in Quebec, and as far west as the Northwest Territories.
While the walleye have been introduced to many of their habitats in the United States, they are a fish that’s native to North America. Their introduction outside of their native range is due to their popularity as a sport fish, as well as a fish that’s good to eat.
When fishing for walleye, you’ll find them in large lakes, as well as rivers and streams. They tend to spend their time in deeper waters, looking to avoid the harsh light of the day, and moving into more shallow waters to hunt at night. They like water that has good circulation and aeration.
Zander Range
Zander are a member of the perch family with a striking resemblance to walleye, but they’re from an entirely different part of the world. Zander’s natural range is in continental Europe, and stretches east into Siberia. The fish have been introduced all over the world to other habitats, being used as a sportfish, as well as a pest removal system of sorts. Zander have been introduced to many countries and have been introduced in the United States. Because of their ability to take over waterways through fierce competition, there is a concern that these fish will become horribly invasive over time.
Invaders in North American Waters
At this point in time, zander are not found in any waterways in Canada or the United States with the exception of Spiritwood Lake in North Dakota. The fish was purposely introduced there as a sport fish, and has remained there ever since. Because of the zander’s massive size and predatory nature, it is of great concern that should the fish be introduced in other waterways that it will become highly invasive. At this point in time, it’s illegal to introduce zander into any other waters in North America.
Fishing for Walleye and Fishing for Zander
Walleye fishing and zander fishing are vastly different, even though the fish tend to have similar diets and behaviors. One of the main similarities between the two, however, is successful night fishing trips. Both fish are entirely nocturnal, making night fishing a must.
Fishing for Walleye
Walleye fishing is careful business, as the fish are wary and tend to be very line-shy. As such, a number of different fishing methods has to be employed on any walleye fishing trip, and many different lures and baits are needed to ensure success.
Walleye tend to enjoy soft swimbaits, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits. They are cast or trolled at various depths, since walleye will fish any part of the water column.
Fishing for Zander
While fishing for walleye tends to be more successful when using lures, there is a hot debate between the effectiveness of lure fishing and live or dead bait fishing with zander. Many anglers prefer to use dead baitfish, and bottom fish the water that zander are present in. Additionally, floating dead bait off the bottom is a highly effective method of zander fishing.
If using lures, it’s more effective to use larger lures to fish for zander, as they grow much larger than walleye do. When trolling, bigger crankbaits are highly effective. Additionally, vertical jigs and soft baits work well with zander. One thing that you’ll notice with zander is that, unlike their North American relatives, these fish are not line-shy.
Read more about Walleye Spawning
Sources
- nwf.org Walleye
- Walleye – Freshwater Fish of America
- 5 Important Facts about Walleye Behavior that Will Make Fishing Them Easier – Wildewood On Lake Savant
- Zander Fishing at Night (Best Baits and Methods) – Strike and Catch
- Zander Fishing – What Is Zander and How to Catch It
- Walleye vs. Zander (Similarities and Differences) – Strike and Catch
- Invasive Species – Zander
- Zander | Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program