Table of Contents
Walleye Fish Facts
What is the walleye known for?
The walleye is a freshwater fish in the perch family that is a popular and commonly-stocked game fish. Walleye are long and thin, primarily gold and olive in color, with a white belly. The back is crossed with five or more black bands.
What do walleye fish eat?
Walleye are strictly carnivorous, only eating animals. Young walleye eat microscopic organisms that drift in the water called zooplankton. As they get older, they mostly eat other fishes such as yellow perch and freshwater drum. Walleye also eat aquatic insects, crayfish, snails, and mudpuppies (a kind of salamander).
Is walleye a healthy fish to eat?
Vitamins and Minerals
Walleye does not contribute to high blood pressure because it has a healthy mix of 424 milligrams of potassium and only 55 milligrams of sodium. The fish also contains 2 micrograms of vitamin B-6, or 17 percent of the daily value.
How far do walleye travel in a day?
Lawrence. Another study, on Lake Winnebago, showed 21 percent of the tagged adult walleyes recaptured 25 to 90 miles away from their release point. Other studies have pegged walleye movements at 120, 160, and as many as 240 miles. Most of this research, though, was conducted on large lakes and reservoirs.
Where is the walleye capital of the world?
Baudette, Minn.: Has a Minnesota state trademark on the phrase, “Walleye Capital of the World.” Located on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River in northern Minnesota.
What does walleye taste like?
Walleye offers a fine-flaked fillet with a subtle, sweet flavor and low levels of fishiness. A good fish if you enjoy eating a meal consisting of mild flavors. Its texture is firm yet delicate with a buttery mouthfeel. If you prefer less fishy, blander tasting fish then you’ll probably enjoy it.
What is walleyes favorite food?
They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. Try fishing from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer. Use bait, spinnerbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, ice jigs as well as plastic worms and grubs. Trolling is often a very effective way to fish for these tasty fish.
Where do walleyes go in winter?
The coldest part of winter puts most walleyes in main basins of lakes and reservoirs, using deeper areas than they did during early winter or than they will toward the end of the ice season. Deep, of course, is a relative term, and mid-winter depths vary pretty dramatically from one lake to another.
How often do walleyes feed?
The best times of day to fish for large walleye is around dawn and dusk. In particular, 30 minutes before and after sunset and sunrise are peak times. That said, walleye will continue to feed all night long. On cloudy or windy mornings, walleye may feed up to an hour and a half after sunrise.
What are the four fish that should never be eaten?
Making the do not eat list are King Mackerel, Shark, Swordfish and Tilefish. All fish advisories due to increased mercury levels should be taken seriously. This is especially important for vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and older adults.
Are walleye bottom feeders?
Walleyes are basically bottom feeders, but don’t ignore those fish that suspend over drop-offs in deep lakes. Some of the best summer walleye fishing is provided by suspended fish.
Is walleye high in mercury?
Walleye had higher concentrations of mercury than other sport fish. Larger walleye had higher mercury concentrations than smaller walleye. Mercury concentrations in walleye fillets ranged from 0.11 to 0.44 parts per million (ppm).
What temperature do walleye bite?
So is there a real best temperature to catch walleye at? The best water temperature to catch walleye at is between 65-70 but any temperature above 35 will yield walleye willing to bite. Water temperature is an important factor that drives walleye feeding and can dictate how easy they are to catch.
How far can a walleye see?
Putting what we know together we can say that like most predator fish, walleyes in clear water can sense movements well at a distancein the best light perhaps out to 50 feet or so.
What state eats the most walleye?
1. Minnesota. All other claimants can stand down. No state has more lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs stuffed with walleyes than Minnesota.
How old is a 28 inch walleye?
In just about every walleye lake, males peak out at 12-15 years old and reach 24-26 inches in length.
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Average Walleye Length vs. Age.
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Average Walleye Length vs. Age.
| Length (inches) | Typical Female Age (Yrs) | Typical Male Age (Yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 8 | 12-20 |
| 26 | 9 | |
| 27 | 10-11 | |
| 28 | 12-13 |
What is the largest walleye ever caught?
So let the record be known in the walleye world that the world record walleye of 25 pounds which measured 41 inches in length was caught by Mabry Harper in the great state of Tennessee in 1960 was a most well documented claim and there has never been any evidence to prove the contrary.
What colors do walleye see best?
Walleyes also possess color vision, based on analysis of the structure of the light-sensitive cones. Scientists tell us walleyes should see red, orange, and yellow the best, followed by green. Theory also suggests walleyes see blue and violet less well, and these colors may even appear black.
Which taste better cod or walleye?
Walleye tastes mild to sweet compared to cod’s mild taste. At times walleye may have a slight fishy flavor depending where the fish was caught. Walleye and cod have a firm texture which is smooth and flakey.
What’s better perch or walleye?
Perch is good table fare but walleye is superb! It’s the best freshwater fish I have ever eaten.
Does walleye smell fishy?
A good, fresh cut of walleye will have skin that’s firm and shiny, and its flesh will be moist without much of a fishy odor.
What’s the best time to catch walleye?
Generally, the best time to fish for Walleye is early morning and late evening. When the sun is high at midday, Walleye move deeper and hold tightly to shade providing Cover. During periods of low light however, Walleye will move in shallow to feed on baitfish holding close to shore.
Will walleye eat other walleye?
Walleyes are quite cannibalistic, if presented with the opportunity. Yes it would but I think the population that the GFP is worried about being too big is those fish that are 8-12 inches. There isnt much of a predator for them and they eat the same food as the bigger walleye.
Where do walleyes hang in rivers?
Do walleye bite when snowing?
While the snow is falling, you can experience a great bite. It’s happened so often over the years that I’d rather stay and fish right through the storm especially while fishing for walleyes, lake trout, or pike. Too much snow is almost never too much of a good thing.
How do you attract walleye?
Live bait can be highly successful for walleye, which usually involves still fishing, drifting, or trolling the bait. A bottom-bouncing rig or slip sinker is effective for drawing the walleye’s attention in clear water. The best choices of live bait include leeches, minnows, and nightcrawlers.
How far should walleye be from the bottom?
Baits can be set within 6 inches of the bottom, even half that, which is often where the bait should be when Walleyes are only slightly active.
Why can’t I catch walleye?
The main thing to catching walleyes is SLOW down. You cannot fish jigs too slowly. If you are fishing very slow then slow down some more. The thing that is overlooked a lot about fishing slow is you have to be fishing light enough for the jig to fall slowly.
Are walleye active at night?
Walleyes are adept nocturnal hunters best caught by night fishing. While most anglers are sleeping, walleyes are pursuing and feeding on unsuspecting prey that cannot see as well in low-light conditions. This nocturnal activity offers a prime opportunity for walleye anglers.
What time of day are walleye most active?
Walleye feed most actively at night, with a peak in activity around dusk. The best walleye ice fishing is during the 30 minutes before and after sunset in winter.
What is the most unhealthy fish to eat?
Here are some examples of the worst fish to eat, or species you may want to avoid due to consumption advisories or unsustainable fishing methods:
- Bluefin Tuna.
- Chilean Sea Bass.
- Shark.
- King Mackerel.
- Tilefish.
What is the healthiest fish to eat?
5 of the Healthiest Fish to Eat
- Salmon, Wild-Caught (including canned) …
- Sardines, Wild-Caught (including canned) …
- Rainbow Trout (and some types of Lake) …
- Herring. …
- Bluefin Tuna. …
- Orange Roughy. …
- Salmon, Farmed in Pens (Atlantic) …
- Mahi-Mahi (Costa Rica, Guatemala & Peru)
What is the best tasting fish?
What Is the Best Fish to Eat?
- Cod. Taste: Cod has a very mild, milky flavor. …
- Sole. Taste: Sole is another fish with a mild, almost sweet flavor. …
- Halibut. Taste: Halibut has a sweet, meaty flavor that’s widely popular. …
- Sea Bass. Taste: Sea bass has a very mild, delicate flavor. …
- Trout. …
- Salmon.
How can you tell a female walleye?
The anus on a male is circular while the anus of a female resembles a keyhole, and the female’s will become larger once it is time for her to lay eggs. Examine the weight of your walleye. A male will weigh less and look slimmer than a female, with a more streamlined appearance; female walleyes are rounder and plump.
What is the best bait for walleye fishing?
Minnows are the most popular bait option for walleye anglers, I have found consistent success with shiner and flathead minnows. When targeting bigger fish, shiners in the 4-6? range are the mainstay, these will weed through some of the smaller fish and get you on 25?+ Walleye.
Can you fish for walleye from shore?
You can catch a lot of walleye from shore during spring if you fish in the early morning, late afternoon, and even at night. Similarly to fall which you’ll read about shortly, fishing with moving baits will be successful because walleye are in shallow water to feed.
Does walleye have omega-3?
Walleye is good for us!
It is also a source of healthy fats, called omega-3 fatty acids. These fats help to keep the heart healthy and are good for brain development.
What is the most common fish in Minnesota?
Common fishes of Minnesota
- Northern pike.
- Salmon.
- Sauger.
- Sunfish.
- Trout.
- Walleye.
- White sucker.
- Yellow perch.
Is walleye considered a fatty fish?
For a heart-healthy effect, guidelines recommend eating “fatty” or “oily” fish. These terms are misleading, as most of the fish we eat are fairly lean. “Oily” fish like tuna and salmon are typically high in EPA and DHA–lower amounts of which are found in trout, sardines, walleye, oysters, shrimp and mussels.
How do you find walleyes in a lake?
Here’s what to look for:
- Inflowing tributaries create current in lakes. …
- Rocky points and sand bars often hold fish. …
- Humps are classic walleye structure. …
- Islands and reefs appeal to walleye. …
- Sand and mud flats hold yellow perch and aquatic invertebrates, which are food for walleye.
How does rain affect walleye fishing?
One of the best times to catch walleye is right before rain. The bite will continue into the rain event itself. I have found walleye to continue biting during rain as long as you fish a little slower. The rain and stormy conditions will stir up the water adding additional nutrients into the water.
How do you catch walleye in May?
Can walleyes see red?
A walleye lacks the blue and yellow cells, so it’s color vision is similar to that of the rare human beings with blue and yellow color blindness. What this means is a walleye most likely can see all colors as some shade of red or green.
How do walleye see at night?
This excellent night vision is a result of the walleye’s photosensitive eyes, which also make it harder for this game fish to see and pursue prey during daylight hours. One of the advantages of night fishing for walleye is that they often move up into the shallows during the evening hours.
Can walleye see colored line?
Fluorocarbon is the hardest line for sharp-eyed walleye to see by far and the best for line shy fish. Line color is a two-edged sword. In many situations, when solitary walleye strike very lightly, it’s a good idea to have a line you can see. A bright yellow, orange, or green main line with a fluorocarbon leader.
What is the best lake to catch walleye?
10 Best Fall Walleye Hotspots
- Lake Erie, Pennsylvania/Ohio. …
- Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. …
- Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota. …
- Lake McConaughy, Nebraska. …
- Bay Of Quinte , Ontario, Canada. …
- Upper Mississippi River, MN. …
- Bay de Noc, Michigan. …
- Columbia River, Washington/Oregon.
What Lake has the best walleye?
Western Basin of Lake Erie, OH
Arguably, this is the king of walleye fisheries. While fish size generally peaks at around 10 pounds, top-end size is increasing, with several 15-pounders caught in recent years.
Is a walleye a pike?
walleyed pike, also called Walleye, fish that is a type of pikeperch (q.v.).
