WALLEYE BASS

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VOLUME 1 WALLEYE

FISHING GUIDEFACULTY OF

www.facultyoffishing.com

INTRODUCTION:The walleye is a freshwater perciform fish inhabiting many lakes,

rivers and reservoirs of Northern United States and Canada. Walleye get their name for the reflective nature of their eyes. They are a prized sport fish by many anglers and also hold the reputation as being one of the tastiest freshwater fish of North America.

Other common names include: yellow walleye, yellow pike or pickerel.

KINGDOMAnimalia

PHYLUMChordata

CLASSActinoptervgii

ORDERPerciformes

FAMILYPercidae

GENUSSander

SPECIES S. vitreus

This guide has been prepared as a reference for anglers wanting to learn more about Walleye. It offers a great comple-ment to the material contained within the online lessons on Walleye.

We start with a quick overview of the species, then cover different aspects of Walleye as they occur throughout Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter seasons.

We hope you enjoy the material and thank you for being a part of Faculty of Fishing.

WALLEYE

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OVERVIEW: SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION: SANDER VITREUS

WALLEYE

DESCRIPTION:The walleye skin is generally olive and gold/yellow in

colour that fades to a very white belly. The characteristics of the water system can have some

inf luence on a walleye’s exact coloring and appearance. Variations in a walleye’s habitat can inf luence the color, shape and size of the fish. They also have 5 distinct dark saddles that extend along the upper side of the fish’s body. Anglers must be careful when handling the fish as the mouth of a walleye contains many large and sharp teeth and its first dorsal and anal fins are spinous.

Sauger are a close relative to the walleye. Walleye gen-erally grow much larger than sauger and can be further distinguished by the white coloration (patch) on the lower lobe of the walleye’s caudal fin. Sauger do not have this white marking; rather, they have rows of black dots on their two dorsal fins and caudal fin.

Walleye can grow to 20 pounds but the average size is in the 1-3 pound range. Generally, males are smaller than females.

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WALLEYE

DISTRIBUTION:Walleye can be found in many of the waters throughout Canada

and the mid to northern states of the United States. Native to North America, they have also been introduced to many new water systems and now have a much larger range than they originally did.

HABITAT:Walleye are a cool water species and will favour the intermedi-

ate water temperatures and the related depths that provide them with optimal water temperatures. During the summer, they will often use or follow out structure that drops into deeper water. Where the structure meets the thermocline is a good spot to find walleye holding or even feeding on baitfish that are also in and around the thermocline. Depending on the main forage and the movements of the food, walleye may move up the structure into the shallows to feed.

Through walleye will relate to weedy and other similar types of cover and habitats, their favoured environment is a clean, hard bottom piece of structure. Typically walleye will hold near the bot-tom and this section is where many anglers spend most of their

time fishing. As a note, walleye will at times and in certain bodies of water be found using wood, docks, transitions from hard to soft bottoms and even open water suspending off the structure; so if you are having trouble finding them, venture to some not so obvi-ous areas and you might be surprised at what you find.

Since walleye have good eyesight, they will often have an advan-

tage when feeding in turbid or stained waters where light penetra-tion is low. Using their superior eye sight, walleye will often feed during dusk and dawn, especially when in clear water.

Walleye can be found in many types of bodies of water but it is the olgiotrophic and mesotrophic systems that they seem to excel in. These fish are also very adapted to current environments and many rivers of North America contain healthy populations of big walleye. In rivers, walleye will use current breaks and channel edges to posi-tion when feeding. Some great spots on lakes, rivers and reservoirs to key in on when looking for walleye include areas where there is a neck-down or inlet that will concentrate prey and provide some cur-rent to move the prey through the area.

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WALLEYE

BIOLOGY:

SENSESWalleye, like all fish, rely on all their senses to survive within

their watery world. Under different times, conditions or environ-ments, walleye may incorporate different senses to relate to and understand what is going on in their world. Of all their senses, vision is probably the one they are best known for. Walleye also have a fine-tuned lateral line and superb smell. Let’s review each:

VISIONThe sensory capabilities of their vision is somewhat determined by the water clarity and light levels. But regardless of the conditions they have an eye, hence their name: Walleye, that is adapted to aid them in feeding. Their eye is large and especially effective in low light condi-tions. A reflective layer on the retina known as the tapetum lucidum concentrates light after it enters the eye. Many nocturnal animals like cats, racoons and deer that have good nocturnal vision have an eye structure similar to the Walleye’s eye.

The eye contains both rods and cones. Cones are used to see in lighter conditions and rods during dark conditions. The eye of a walleye contains a larger number of rods than the eyes of many other species of fish, further enhancing its vi-sion during lowlight conditions.

Walleye are able to see color but not as well as many other species like Trout or Largemouth Bass. Research suggests that the colors walleye can see the best are red, orange, yel-low and then green.

SMELLWalleye, like many fish, will use smell to determine if something is

food or danger. Even though some studies have indicated that wall-eye will rely greater on their ability to see or feel an object through their lateral line over the sense of smell, anglers should still always avoid contact with foreign odours like gas, lotions or oils that can be transferred to their lures. One exception may be using scents: the scents can make the bait smell more appealing to the wary walleye and this may also help mask any foreign smells that may exist.

TASTEWalleye use the taste test to decide whether to hold, swallow, or quickly expel the bait. Like many species of fish, walleye will take their food or your bait into their mouths and then, depending on the taste, keep it in their mouths or spit it out. This process can happen so quickly, that the bait is in and out of the fish’s mouth before the watching angler can process and react to set the hook.

HEARINGWalleye have and use their keen sense of hearing. Anglers can ben-efit from a walleye’s ability to hear by picking lures that have rattles or make attractive noises that trigger the fish to bite. Because wall-eye have such a keen sense of hearing, anglers should be conscious of the nose they make when approaching or fishing a spot. Be careful to not bang around or drop things on a boat’s bottom.

FEEL / LATERAL LINEThe lateral line picks up vibrations within the water and sends a message to the walleye’s brain on the location and

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WALLEYE

size of the object. Anglers can use lures that transmit vibra-tions to help stimulate the lateral line, especially in waters that have very low water clarity as this may be the primary sense used by walleye.

BAROTRAUMAWalleye are very susceptible to the effects of barotrau-

ma. The research indicates that when walleye are caught at depths of greater than 20-25 feet they can suffer the negative impact of barotrauma (over-inf lation of swim bladder). Be-cause walleye can be found at depths greater than this, the

problems with barotrauma are of concern if you are planning to release your fish when caught from deep water.

Factors affecting the degree to which barotrauma can im-pact the walleye include depth, speed at which the fish is brought out of deep water, water temperature and relative healthiness of the individual fish. In order to mitigate the effects of barotrauma when catching deep water walleye, reel the fish in very slowly. This will help allow the fish to adapt to the pressure changes as it comes to the surface.

WATER PROPERTIES / CHARACTERISTICSWalleye feeding rates are at their highest when water tem-

peratures are between 55ºF and 75 ºF. When water tempera-tures are below this range, feeding will slow down with the decreased metabolism of the fish, as it does not need to re-plenish as much energy like in higher temperatures. When water temperatures rise above 80 º F, feeding often also drops off as the thermal stress factors exceed the heightened me-tabolism rates resulting in less feeding and a search for cooler water environments by the walleye. Common summer tem-peratures preferred by walleye are in the 65 ºF to 75 ºF range.

Walleye can survive in environments with fairly low oxygen levels. They will also avoid environments where the pH in is be-low 6 or above 9, though they can tolerate certain levels above or below this range. Poor pH levels can have a negative effect on development and reproduction.

PERSONALITY:

Walleye, like many fish, can be influenced by different fac-tors like light levels, wind and/or cloud cover. Where the water is clear and the sun is high, walleye will often drop down into deep water (40’ or more) where there is less light penetration. Walleye fishing is known for having a good bite during the dawn and dusk periods, as walleye move shallow during these lower light times to use their good eyesight in feeding.

Windy conditions can also move walleye and influence the bite. The wind will often push foraging baitfish into vulnerable areas or cause them to group up creating an easy meal for close by walleye.  Cloud cover is another factor that may also trig-ger the walleye to move to shallower water to feed during the middle of the day.

Walleye form a social structure and will often school up. This often results in the fish being fairly easy to find on your SONAR.

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WALLEYE

Unfortunately, walleye are known to be finicky at times, making them challenging to catch. Anglers need to adapt by changing presentations often, of-fering different lures/baits and, if needed, moving locations to find feeding fish.

FORAGE:

Walleye are ferocious predators with a large and diverse menu plan. From open water pelagic prey to shallow water quarry, walleye will capitalize on many types of prey species. Seasons and the types of forage in the water system are two of the biggest factors in determining a walleye’s next meal.

Springtime walleye will often use weedy environ-ments and take advantage of prey like insects, cray-fish, perch, bluegills and other sunfish and minnow species. Often many species of baitfish will spawn during this time of year: another source of food for the walleye.

When away from the shallows, walleye will often relate to the main forage species inhabiting deeper water and offshore environments. Crayfish, leeches and pelagic baitfish (alewives, ciscos, shad, etc.) be-come the preferred food choices of walleye in these areas.

As with many types of fish, an angler can de-termine the best bait for a given time by under-standing the walleye’s preferred environments and seasonal locations and looking for the easiest and most plentiful of prey in these areas.

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Shad

Bluegill Leech

Crayfish

Perch

Minnow Cisco

Alewife Sunfish

Insects

WALLEYE

SEASONSThe spring is an important season for the walleye. The spring

is when walleye migrate from their wintering areas and increase their feeding after a long winter. This is also the time for wall-eye to reproduce.

EARLY SPRINGAs the water temperature begins to warm with the spring

season’s longer days and increased sun intensity the walleye bite can really turn on. Walleye will very quickly begin migrating towards their spawning areas and will use the shallow to mid depths during low light times to feed, then drop back down to deeper water to rest during the day. Walleye will set up on structure that is connected to or very close to their spawning grounds during the early spring.

Fishing for walleye during this time can be good, as walleye will start to feed fairly heavily as they replenish from a long winter and prepare for the spawn. When keying in on loca-tions to catch walleye just prior to the spawn, focus on areas of moderate to low current if available within the body of wa-ter. They will move upstream taking the opportunity to feed as they move to their spawning area. Where there is no current, pre-spawn walleye will set up along main lake breaks that are very close or directly connected to where they will spawn. This time of year will see a fair bit of movement by walleye from deep to shallow water. The closer it gets to the optimal condi-tions for the spawn, the more often walleye will be found in the shallows. For anglers, lures like spinner rigs, jigs and shallow running crankbaits can be great options in the early spring.

SPAWNAs the water begins to warm from the winter lows the males

will start to migrate towards their spawning areas. The females will follow as the water temperatures move into the low to mid 40 ºF range. The preferred spawning area of walleye includes shallower (2-6 feet deep) shorelines with a clean bottom made up of gravel and fist sized boulders. These areas also usually have some type of water flow (wind or current) that provides adequate aeration for the development of the eggs.

The actual temperature for the spawn can vary from one body of water to another; in some northern water systems, the spawn can occur at water temperatures around 44 ºC to 48 ºF where in some warmer southern reservoirs it might not occur till the wa-ter temps reach the low to mid 50s. Even within a body of water, the actual time for the spawn can differ. The shallow parts of the body of water will often see the spawn a week or two earlier than the spawn that can occur on main basin reefs or shoals.

When the spawn occurs the females move up onto the spawning grounds. The females will be bumped and nudged by the males to encourage them to deposit the eggs. When the eggs are dropped the male will emit the milt to fertilize the eggs. Then the fertilized eggs fall into the rocks where they can safely develop and hatch away from predators. After the spawn occurs the walleye abandon the eggs; typically the males will hold in the general area for a short time, whereas the females move to deeper water to recuperate and then start their journey to early summer locations. Note: these are general guidelines and certain bodies of water may see differ-ent walleye behaviour in certain situations. An example of this is would be in places like Lake Erie where the big females head di-rectly from spawning out into open water and start to feed. Female walleyes at this time of year are hard to pattern because they go from a very concentrated area (spawning grounds) to being spread out – often in open water.

After a well needed rest period, walleye will be ready to begin feeding and this activity can provide some great fishing times. The warming water, insect and yearling fish hatches can trigger heavy feeding by many of the big females. With many combinations of potential food sources, anglers should try to key in on the pre-ferred forage and then choose baits and lures that will represent closely the different prey available. It is important to remember that conditions can change quickly during this time of year and a great weed bite can quickly fizzle to a great offshore bite.

TRANSITION TO SUMMERThe transition from spring location to summer homes for walleye

can depend greatly on local weather and associated water conditions.

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SPRING

WALLEYE

When a cool spring/summer progresses, walleye will often remain and use the shallows and weedy area longer. With hotter conditions, the movement by many walleye to summer areas will occur very quickly. The main forage that the walleye are keying in on at any given time will also play a very large role in determining their actual locations during the transition from spring into the summer season.

SUMMERAnglers should also consider the water clarity as it will influ-

ence whether the walleye use shallow or deep water: the clearer the water, the deeper the structure that walleye may prefer. When setting up on deep structure, walleye will often hold in the sharp drops and transition areas of hard to soft bottoms. They will hold in these areas and migrate to other areas on the structure to feed.

Another area that should not be over looked is the open water. Bid walleye can be found suspended offshore, roaming the ba-sin in search of their next meal. Suspended fish can be challeng-ing to find, but with the assistance of your electronics, it is not impossible. Locating the baitfish is often the key to success in open water areas. In cover water, keep your eye on your electron-ics and with some experience, you will be able to catch some big suspended walleye.

Anglers can catch walleye on many different lures and through many different presentations during the summer months. Some great choices to try are jigs or livebait rigs. Anglers should make sure that their bait or the weights are contacting the bottom as this will trigger more bites. Many anglers will use minnows,

leeches and worms as their main offerings for these presenta-tions. Another great presentation that can produce some big walleye is trolling crankbaits. Presentations either directly be-hind the boat or off the side and attached to a planner board are great ways to cover water and trigger walleye to bite.

EARLY FALLWith the shorter days, water temperatures begin to drop and

walleye will have a renewed interest in the shallows. As the water cools, temperatures in the shallows become much more suitable to walleye needs. The cooler water will bring open up the shallow bite as opportunistic walleye looking to feed for the long winter start to move from summer locations. Prime areas in early fall are rocky shoals, reefs and flats that are close to their summer haunts. In the early fall, with the initial drop in water temperatures, anglers may also want to check some of the better weedbed areas since as they draw the baitfish, they may also have a population of walleye roaming around them.

Some great choices in tackle include crankbaits when the bite is on. When the bite seems to be a bit tougher going to livebait rigs or jig and minnows can produce some great bites.

MID-FALLAs the fall progresses, the fall turnover occurs as surface tem-

peratures cools to equal the temperature and density of the deeper water. This causes the thermocline to dissipate and the body of water assumes much of the same temperature through-out all depths. This can create an environment where many types of forage species like baitfish will move into the shallows. When this happens, some of the walleye will also use the shal-

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SUMMER

FALL

lows to feed. Some of the population of walleye may remain out on the deeper water environments. This time of year can see walleye throughout many different depths, the main de-terminant for location being the primary forage’s position. If enough food remains in deep water areas then the walleye may also remain out there. For the mid-fall try using larger min-nows and jigs when the walleye are relating to specific struc-ture. When the weather has been stable and the walleye are roaming the flats trolling a larger crankbait can be the tech-nique of choice.

LATE FALLAs the cooler weather starts to take effect on the body of wa-

ter, the surface water will become colder than the deeper water. This will move shallow walleye back towards the deeper water as they begin to set-up in areas where they will winter. This is the time of year to really zero in on sharp breaks into deep water. As the water temperature drops into the mid-40F range, walleye

will begin to hold deeper and tighter to structure. They begin to slow down and become a bit sluggish. Fish can still be caught but slower presentations like jigs but riggin (slip sinker rig) is a great choice during this time of year.

WINTERAs the winter season sets in, walleye are typically set up in their

winter locations. During these months, the metabolism of the walleye slows down due to the cold but they do remain fairly active and feed throughout the winter. As water temperatures drop below 40 ºF, some bodies of water will become ice covered but you can still catch them under the ice. When a body of water is ice covered, the warmest water at that time will be right along the bottom. This narrow layer of water is where many of the fish will hold, move and feed. Make sure that much of the time your bait is being presented in this area.

To learn more please check out the many different lessons

WALLEYE

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WINTER

Guide developed in partnership with

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