walleye fishing

In the northern half of the United States, walleye fishing is a very popular activity. This is true, I believe, because walleye can be a very difficult fish to catch and it is also delicious. Walleye is one of the most popular freshwater species to eat. A walleye shoreline lunch is a very hard meal to beat, no matter what kind of food it’s compared to. When many people think of the term ‘walleye’ they immediately think of Canada, but the truth is that walleye are also found throughout the northern half of the United States.

So where do walleye get their name from? Simple. The name ‘zander’ comes from the fact that their eyes reflect light, much like a cat’s eyes do. This is the result of a light-accumulating layer inside the eye that allows walleye to see well in low-light conditions. Obviously, since Mother Nature gave walleye this equipment, they are more apt to feed at night. In fact, many anglers attempt to catch walleye at night, although the protection of darkness is by no means a must for catching walleye. Being able to see well in low light conditions means that in many cases walleye can be found in deep water, where there is less light.

Since they are literally designed to see well in low light conditions, these are the best conditions for catching these fish. Fishing is generally best on cloudy days and when the water is choppy. Walleye can see quite well when the water is very choppy, due to the design of their eyes. Here is a little interesting trivia for you. Did you know that the walleye is the state fish of Minnesota? If you’re lucky, that might get you a slice of pie on a trivial quest one day…

Walleye are fished in various ways. Casting or trolling with spinners or plugs that imitate minnow is always a good bet. Special spinner and bead harness rigs, with a worm attached, are often trolled. Jigs, whether traditional or bucktails, are a favorite tactic of many anglers, with some even tipping their jig with a live minnow. Another wonderful technique is to find a tributary that feeds a lake or river that contains walleye. In the spring and fall, walleye will enter these streams to feed and spawn. Using a hook rig baited with a live worm is a great technique for walleye at these times of year. The angler simply bounces the live worm mounted on a set of hooks along the bottom as it floats down the river. The techniques can be deadly.

However a person chooses to fish for walleye, the point is that walleye are an incredibly popular fish to try to catch. Whether it’s a sport or the dinner table, there seems to be little difference to the experienced walleye angler. They just love the challenge of catching them. The people of Minnesota would obviously agree, since they made the walleye their state fish.