Walleye Information

Walleye Information

Common Name: Walleye - Scientific Name: Stizostedion vitreum

Location: The walleye is native to the central portion of North America from the Rocky Mountain to the Appalachian Mountain chains, ranging as far south as Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama, and as far north as Great Slave Lake, the Mackenzie River and the Peace River in northwest Canada. Introductions have extended the range beyond the Appalachian Mountains in the east, to the Columbia river in the west, and as far south as Texas. In Saskatchewan it is found in all water bodies with a natural fish stock. Found in all lakes, rivers and reservoirs in good numbers.

Characteristics:

The walleye is equipped with two separate dorsal fins. The anterior fin has sharp tipped spines, and the posterior dorsal has soft rays. As well they have a sharp spike on tip of gill cover plate. The body can be light to dark depending on the water found in. Clear sandy bottom lake have light colored fish and the darker the water body the darker the fish get. Generally walleye have a dark top of fish along spine with dark to lighter brown-olive to golden-greenish on sides with a white belly and white tip on tail. The lower lobe of the tail fin has a white tip. These fish get the name from their large luminous eyes. Walleye are carnivores with teeth in the jaws and on the roof of the mouth. Note: there is a blue phase walleye, it is a walleye just a color trait throwback, it is not a subspecies or separate species. Walleye average size is 14 to 22” and average weight is 3 – 5lbs. Walleye typically live to be 7-8 years old and females can weigh 12-25 pounds. Current world record walleye was caught in Saskatchewan and weighs 18.3lbs.

Fish Habits:

In the spring, spawning begins when water temperatures reach 45-50° Fahrenheit. In late winter or early ice-out fish begin to move to areas in lakes with water inlets, water coming into lake. Typically, spawning takes place on riffles after fish have moved upstream, but in lakes it may also take place on shallow small rock covered bottom areas. Eggs are scattered at random by females who are accompanied by several males that fertilize the eggs. Walleye eggs are adhesive and stick to the rocks and weeds. At water temperatures of 57°F, they hatch in about seven days. There is no nest building, and no parental care for eggs or fry. Young walleyes are fast growers and may attain lengths of ten inches or more during their first year if conditions are favorable. Although young fish may consume crustaceans and various insects and their larvae, larger young fish primarily eat smaller fish.

Fishing Tactics: Help you find success:

Walleye these guys eat fish, morning noon and night. The best jig is a jig that Mimics A Minnow or Shiner Walleye tend to be in schools; when you catch one it is likely there are others in the same area. Walleye are usually found on or near the bottom of the lake, but can be found suspended usually near thermoclimes(where warm and cold water meet). But the odds are with you if you keep your bait on or near the bottom.

They are usually found near or on a sandbar, points of islands, rocky bottoms, off rocky steep banks, along weed lines, or a physical feature which provides good feeding close to deeper waters. Walleye are generally nocturnal and feed primarily in evening and early morning but will feed all night in shallow water.

In spring and fall they are very aggressive feeders and can be caught all day long. In summer and on bright days they move into deeper water or into weed cover where the light is dim. The diet of the adult walleye consists mainly of small fish and a few insects.

Tips:

Never give the walleye any slack line. Always keep a tight line between you and the hooked fish. Walleye will spit your lure out faster than you can set the hook. Most walleye are lost right at the strike or right at the boat because they got some slack line or you missed the bite. Walleye are not usually aggressive biters but tend to take lures softly or suck them in. Walleye tend to bite as the lure is falling so when you lift or move your line and feel any weight or resistance set the hook.

The primary food of walleye is fish. To find fish try trolling, walleye are a schooling fish so when you catch one there will be more. Your bait should resemble a bait fish in some manner, be slowly retrieved and moving, most often are caught by slowly bouncing and Jigging for Walleye.(see article), Use jigs and spinners over bottom structures. When selecting crankbaits, try suspending minnow bait styles like shad raps, minnow raps, walleye divers and such in 2 and 3” sizes.

In spring try small jigs with curly tails in yellow and white. In summer try wind drifting or slow troll with Bottom Bouncer and Spinners or a Worm Harness with dew worms or leeches. In fall go back to jigs with minnows or beef heart. In winter use jigs, flutter spoons, jigging spoons in yellow, chartreuse and minnow colors and dead set lines with minnows or herring as bait.

Walleye do not fight like other species, they do not make the spectacular leaps or shake their heads and make long runs of line pulling porportions, but when hooked try to stay at the bottom of the lake and will seem like you have caught a log until it pulls back towards bottom. They fight and fight hard to stay at the bottom and once you catch your first walleye, you will be hooked on catching more.

Tackle:

Rod & Reel:

Medium spinning with 4 – 10lb line.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Spincast Rod & Reel

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Spinning Rod and Reel

Lures:

1/8 to ¾ oz Jigs with twister tails,

Spinners such as mepps or panther martin,

Spoons 00 Len Thompson 5 of diamonds or red/white

Ruby eye, daredevil, and silver minnows

Crankbait and hardbaits in minnow patterns 2 ¾ and 3” size

Bottom bouncers with worm harness and crawlers.