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