| The Walleye sporting fish is a freshwater | | | | |
| "Perciform" fish native to Southern and | | | | Walleyes are usually larger than perch fish |
| middle Northern regions of Canada as well as | | | | and can be distinguished from the perch fish |
| to the contiguous northern regions of the | | | | by the Walleye's more distinctive scale |
| United States Walleye or sometimes known as | | | | colors. The more specific fish descriptive |
| "Walley fish" is a North American relative of | | | | term can be said to be a more specific |
| the European pikeperch. In addition to make | | | | description of a type of Walleye which is |
| it somewhat confusing the common North | | | | also referred to as "Yellow Pike" or |
| American walleye is sometimes referred to as | | | | "Pickerel" fish. The fish name of "Pickerel" |
| the yellow walleye to distinguish it from the | | | | is well established as a description in |
| extinct blue walleye. The "Blue Walleye" was | | | | Canadian areas such as the "lake Winnipeg "or |
| a prolific fish of the Great Lakes- | | | | "Red River" Pickerel. In actuality it |
| predominantly Lakes Erie and Ontario. | | | | actually is not a proper term as true Walleye |
| | | | fish are not pike fish or pickerel fish. Yet |
| This different species of fish "The Blue | | | | the name has stuck. If nothing else the term |
| Walleye" was a prolific fish to the extent | | | | "Yellow Walleye" is the correct term which |
| that it was heavily commercially fished in | | | | also distinguishes the Walleye fish from the |
| the Great Lakes fishing regions. | | | | extinct blue walleye varieties. |
| | | | |
| Unfortunately the popularity and delicacy of | | | | Walleye fish show some variations across |
| this fish lead to its demise and extinction. | | | | different watersheds. What gives the Walleye |
| Up to 50 % of the commercial fish catch of | | | | fish its distinctiveness and the word "Eye" |
| the area was of the Blue Walleye variety | | | | in its name is the trait of the Walleye fish |
| fish. | | | | is the luminescence of their eyes. Like |
| | | | feline cats the eyes of Walleye fish reflect |
| Over fishing in the 1950's led to a | | | | light. This is most noticeable at night. |
| population crash of the Blue Walleye fishery. | | | | |
| In the 1960's the introduction of the Zebra | | | | Walleye fish can see well for hunting their |
| Mussel into the Great Lakes Catchment area | | | | prey in low light conditions.. Walleye fish |
| was the final straw. By 1965 the Blue Walleye | | | | actually have a specific light gathering |
| of the Great Lakes Fisheries was pronounced | | | | layer in the anatomy of their eyes. |
| extinct for all practical purposes - although | | | | |
| an occasional fish is caught by anglers from | | | | As a result Walleye fish feed at night. |
| time to time. | | | | Knowledgeable anglers and fisherman know that |
| | | | often the best time to fish for them is at |
| In some parts of its range, the walleye is | | | | night. Even better the fish can also see |
| also known as the walleyed pike, yellow pike | | | | well in stained or rough turbid waters, |
| or pickerel (esp. in English-speaking | | | | giving them a real advantage over other |
| Canada), although the fish is related neither | | | | competitive fish species and the prey of the |
| to the pikes nor to the pickerels, both of | | | | Walleye fish as well. |
| which are members of the family Esocidae. | | | | |
| | | | Where to best catch your "King Walleye"? |
| Genetically, walleyes show a fair amount of | | | | Walleye fish can be found lurking in turbid |
| variation across watersheds. In general, fish | | | | waters However where the natural habitat of |
| within a watershed are quite similar and are | | | | Walleyes is, particularly deep commonly clear |
| genetically distinct from those of nearby | | | | water lakes and ponds with beds of submerged |
| watersheds. The species has been artificially | | | | aquatic plants and medium levels of |
| propagated for over a century and has been | | | | nutrients. Lastly Walleyes are best caught |
| planted on top of existing populations or | | | | when the water temperature is cool - below 55 |
| introduced into waters naturally devoid of | | | | degrees Fahrenheit (12.78 degrees Celsius) |
| the species, sometimes reducing the overall | | | | All in all the fall season is when Walleye |
| genetic distinctiveness of populations. | | | | fishing can be the most fun. |