Walleye

Identification and biology

Walleye have two separate dorsal fins with a dark blotch at the base of the last few spines, a white tip on the lower lobe of the tail, and large canine teeth. The cloudy, reflective look of the eye comes from an adaptation for seeing in low light (MDC). Missouri gives an adult size of 12 to 28 inches and half a pound to 8 pounds, though larger fish occur. Adults eat mainly fish, with mayflies important through life. Native from the Rockies to the Appalachians and north into Canada, walleye have been stocked well beyond that range; Iowa keeps most of its lake fisheries going with stocking, and Texas Parks and Wildlife says summer heat limits them in much of Texas, though they do well in north Texas lakes such as Meredith.

Light, depth and the spawn

In clear water walleye stay deep by day and move into the shallows at night, Wisconsin DNR explains, while in murkier water they can be caught all day. They are among the first fish to spawn in spring: Wisconsin reports the migration beginning soon after ice-out at 38 to 44°F and spawning peaking at 42 to 50°F, Iowa gives 42 to 54°F, usually in early April, and Texas gives 45 to 50°F. Eggs are scattered at night over gravel, rubble, rocky shorelines, reefs and dam riprap, with no parental care. New York Sea Grant's habitat fact sheet describes adults preferring water from the low 30s to the high 60s °F through the year and staying mostly in less than 30 feet.

The mistakes that cost fish

Fishing too far above the bottom: Iowa DNR says to set a slip bobber so the bait rides within a foot of bottom and to use a jig just heavy enough to touch it. Using the wrong bait for the season: Iowa suggests minnows from late fall through early spring and nightcrawlers or leeches from late spring to early fall. And quitting after the spawn: Iowa notes fishing gets hard for a couple of weeks while fish recover, but the stretch from late fall to freeze-up gives some of its best walleye fishing, including trophies over 10 pounds in deep, low-current wintering areas.

Tackle setups

Playbook by water temperature

The legal season is a separate question

Month by month

Best waters for walleye

280 waters we report on where this species is one of the main fish, each with a daily report.

Common questions