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