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How About Doing Some Walleye Fishing
he Walleye is a freshwater devoid of the species, sometimes
perciform fish native to reducing the overall genetic
most of Canada and to the distinctiveness of populations.
northern United States. The
walleye is sometimes also called The common name, "walleye", comes
the yellow walleye to distinguish from the fact that their eyes,
it from the blue walleye. not unlike those of cats, reflect
light. This is the result of a
In some parts of its range, the light-gathering layer in the eyes
fish is known as the yellow pike called the tapetum lucidum which
or pickerel, although the use of allows them to see well in
these names should be discouraged low-light conditions.
since the fish is related neither
to the pikes nor to the In fact, many anglers look for
pickerels, both of which are walleyes at night since this is
members of the family Esocidae. when most major feeding patterns
occur. Their eyes also allow them
Genetically, walleyes show a fair to see well in turbid waters
amount of variation across (stained or rough, breaking
watersheds. In general, fish waters) which gives them an
within a watershed are quite advantage over their prey. Thus,
similar and are genetically walleye anglers will commonly
distinct from those of nearby look for days and locations where
watersheds. there is a good "walleye chop"
(i.e. rough water).
The species has been artificially
propagated for over a century and Walleyes are largely olive and
has been planted on top of gold in. The dorsal side of a
existing populations or walleye is olive, grading into a
introduced into waters naturally golden hue on the flanks. The
olive/gold pattern is broken up spawn on sand or on vegetation. A
by five darker saddles that large female can lay up to
extend to the upper sides. 500,000 eggs and no care is given
by the parents to the eggs or
The colour shades to white on the fry. The eggs are slightly
belly. The mouth of a walleye is adhesive and fall into spaces
large and is armed with many between rocks.
sharp teeth. The first dorsal and
anal fins are spinous as is the The incubation period for the
operculum. Walleyes are embryos is temperature-dependent
distinguished from their close but generally lasts from 12 to 30
cousin the sauger by the white days. After absorbing the small
colouration on the lower lobe of amount of yolk, young walleyes
the tail. begin feeding on invertebrates.
After 40 to 60 days, juvenile
The walleye is a relatively walleyes become piscivorous.
r-selected species. They require After this time, both juvenile
fairly clean waters and are found and adult walleyes eat fish
most often in deep mesotrophic almost exclusively, frequently
lakes and moderate- to yellow perch or ciscoes, moving
low-gradient rivers. The walleye onto bars and shoals at night to
is considered a "cool water" feed.
species. Adults migrate to
tributary streams in late winter The walleye is often considered
or early spring to lay eggs over to have the best tasting flesh of
gravel and rock, although there any freshwater fish, and,
are open water reef or shoal consequently, is fished
spawning strains as well. recreationally and commercially.
Because of its nocturnal feeding
Some populations are known to habits, it is most easily caught
at night using live minnows or waters of the Great Lakes but
lures that mimic small fishes. there are other locations as
well. One of the best lakes for
Most commercial fisheries for catching walleyes is Mille Lacs
walleye occur in the Canadian in central Minnesota.
About the Author:
Learn all about walleye fishing here.
Read more articles by: George Johnson
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