walleye

Large, freshwater fish (Stizostedion vitreum) related to the zander, found in rivers and lakes of E North America; length up to 90 cm/3 ft; feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans; an excellent food fish and sport fish. (Family: Percidae.)

iWalleye

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Percidae
Genus:	Sander
Species:	S. vitreus

Binomial name

Sander vitreus
(Mitchill, 1818)

Subspecies

S. The walleye is sometimes also called the yellow walleye to distinguish it from the extinct blue walleye.

In some parts of its range, the walleye is also known as the yellow pike or pickerel (esp.

Genetically, walleyes show a fair amount of variation across watersheds.

Meaning of the name

The common name, "walleye", comes from the fact that their eyes, not unlike those of cats, reflect light. In fact, many anglers look for walleyes at night since this is when most major feeding patterns occur. Thus, walleye anglers will commonly look for days and locations where there is a good "walleye chop" (i.e. rough water).

Physical description

Walleyes grow to about 75 cm (30 in) in length, and weigh up to about 7 kg (15 lb). In heavily fished populations, however, few walleye older than 5 or 6 years of age are encountered.

Walleyes are largely olive and gold in colour (hence the French common name: doré -- golden).

Habitat

The walleye is a relatively r-selected species. The walleye is considered a "cool water" species.

Reproduction

In most of the species' range, the majority of male walleyes mature at age 3 or 4. Thenceforth, both juvenile and adult walleyes eat fish almost exclusively, frequently yellow perch or ciscoes, moving onto bars and shoals at night to feed. Walleye also feed heavily on rusty crawdads, fathead minnows, leeches, and earthworms.

Interaction with humans

The walleye is often considered to have the best tasting flesh of any freshwater fish, and, consequently, is fished recreationally and commercially.

The walleye is a light-avoiding fish, caught most often under low light conditions.

In springtime walleye will take almost any bait or lure, but may be more challenging to catch through the summer months. Jigs, either traditional bucktails, or tipped with any of the modern plastics, a piece of worm or minnow are walleye angling favorites. Walleye are readily caught through the ice, usually on jigs, jigging spoons or minnows.

The walleye is the state fish of Minnesota. Though sold as "walleye", several samples were found to be zander, which is considered an illegal practice by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Because walleyes are popular with anglers, fishing for walleyes is regulated by most natural resource agencies.

"Walleye chop" is a term used by walleye anglers for rough water typical with winds of 5 to 15 mph (7 to 24 km/h), and is one of the indicators for good walleye fishing due to the walleye's increased feeding activity during such conditions. The eyes of a walleye allow it to see much better than their prey in breaking waters.