Walleye
The freshwater low-light specialist. Considered by many the best-eating freshwater fish in North America.
Overview
The Walleye (Sander vitreus) is the most prized freshwater game fish across the northern United States and Canada. The name comes from its eerily reflective tapetum lucidum — a layer at the back of the eye that gives walleye supernatural low-light vision and an unforgettable glassy "wall-eyed" stare.
Walleye are cool-water predators that hunt yellow perch, ciscoes, and shad in big northern lakes and rivers. They are crepuscular and nocturnal — most active at dawn, dusk, and after dark, or on overcast windy days. They run from rocky reefs and shoals up into tributary streams to spawn at night in early spring (42-50°F).
Adults average 14-20 inches but can exceed 25 pounds. Walleye are pursued with jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, slip-bobber rigs, bottom-bouncer crawler harnesses, and crankbaits. They are widely considered the best-eating freshwater fish in North America — sweet, white, flaky, with no fishy taste. Excellent ice fishing target through the long northern winters.
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