Walleye
Sander vitreus
Walleye (Sander vitreus) is a freshwater percid prized by anglers for its excellent table quality and low-light feeding habits. It inhabits cool to moderately warm lakes and large rivers across much of northern North America, with populations also widely stocked beyond the native range.
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Identification points
- Two dorsal fins: a spiny first dorsal followed by a soft-rayed second dorsal.
- Glassy, reflective eyes that often appear pale or yellowish.
- Olive-gold body with dark saddles/blotches and a white tip on the lower tail lobe.
Habitat
Cool to moderately warm lakes, reservoirs, and large rivers with clear to stained water; commonly holds over drop-offs, rocky points, reefs, weed edges, current seams, and deep basin edges, often near soft-bottom forage areas.
Bait notes
Live minnows, leeches, and nightcrawlers are classic baits. Jigging minnows, blade baits, crankbaits, swimbaits, and spinner rigs are effective, with smaller forage-matched profiles usually best.
Behavior
Most active in low light, dawn, dusk, and at night. It is an opportunistic predator that feeds on minnows, perch, shiners, young-of-year fish, and crayfish, often roaming structure edges and suspending over bait schools.
Caution
Freshwater fish, so ciguatera is not a concern. Large individuals can accumulate contaminants like mercury or PCBs in some waters; follow local consumption advisories. Handle carefully because the gill covers and dorsal spines are sharp.
Fishing notes
Work jigs along bottom contact on points, breaks, and current edges; troll crankbaits or crawler harnesses over flats and breaklines; fish deeper in bright conditions and shallower in wind, cloud cover, or at night.