Walleye

Where it lives

Walleye thrive in cool, often turbid lakes and rivers across Canada and the northern United States. They tolerate a wide range of conditions but prefer water below 22 C with rocky or sandy bottoms and broken light — wind-roiled or stained waters suit them.

How to recognise it

The body is elongated and olive-gold with darker mottling and a creamy belly. The most distinctive feature is the eye: a reflective tapetum gives a glassy, opaque appearance that aids night vision. A white tip on the lower lobe of the tail is another field mark.

Diet & behavior

Walleye are crepuscular hunters — most active at dawn, dusk, and on overcast days. Yellow perch are the staple prey across their range; they also take minnows, leeches, and crayfish. Spawning occurs in early spring over rocky shoals and river riffles.

Fisheries & Conservation

Least Concern, with strong commercial and recreational fisheries especially around Lake Erie. Quota systems govern the larger fisheries; light-sensitive eyes make night fishing highly productive.