Fishing Walleye

Walleye is one of the most sought after fish in most parts of the US making Walleye fishing very popular. It is the state fish of Minnesota. The Walleyes are natives of Midwestern United States and Canada. But, they have been introduced outside this area and can be found as far as New England. Walleye require cool temperatures. Hence they are found abundantly in the glacier lakes. This fish is considered to be the ultimate prize by anglers because of its handsome shape and its elusive nature. In Minnesota alone, anglers keep about 3.2 million walleyes. This totals to an amazing 4 million pounds. That's a lot of Walleye. The name of the fish is derived from its pearl-like eyes that shine luminously at night in the murky waters. The Walleye grows to 30 inches in length and can weigh up to 7 kg.

Fishing Walleye is all the more difficult because most of the Walleyes are found in dark, muddy waters, and pulling them out of the mud requires quite a bit of effort. When the water becomes dirty, Walleye continue to feed. But they cannot see as clearly in the murky waters, and they need more time to catch their food. This is because at such times Walleye are forced to depend on their sense of hearing rather than sight to catch prey. This is also the time when Walleye become very aggressive and will really bite the bait. The trick involved while fishing Walleye is to keep the lure right in front of the jaws of the fish till they gulp it down. Slowing down the bait is a key to success here. Even when the fish are feeding aggressively, Walleyes just cannot react when the bait flies past. Because of its nocturnal feeding habits, it is easily caught at night. To make fishing Walleyes easy, use live minnows or lures that mimic small fishes.

When Walleye fishing in muddy waters, Walleyes will try to stick to solid structures more than ever. The logic behind this is that they believe these structures to be readily available sources of food. Reefs, channels, rock piles and sharp drop-offs are all excellent places to search for Walleyes when the water is dirty. The Walleyes try to corner the fish that stick to these predictable routes. The Walleye ambushes prey and herd schools of baitfish from such areas. If you are able to locate such areas where Walleyes are holding, and then present the bait slowly, the fish will definitely bite.

When fishing Walleye, there are some important things to keep in mind. The color of the bait is quite significant. When the Walleye are in shallow waters, it is better to use a lighter jig. This occurs usually in springtime. At night also Walleye swim in shallow waters. A heavier jig may be used during the summer season or on sunny days when the Walleye go much deeper into the water. Walleye feed according to the season. During springtime, Walleye feed aggressively. This changes in the summer, when they switch to bugs and crustaceans found at the bottom. It is best to imitate a bug or worm at such times. During spring, just troll along the shoreline just at daybreak, or just before dark.

Walleye fishing have become so popular not only because the fish provides good sport. Anglers consider this fish to prize number one. The Walleyes are also prized food. Hence, Walleye are caught both commercially as well as recreationally. In South Dakota, Walleye fishing for sport generates a lot of income. Due to this very reason, Government extensively manages the population of Walleyes. Walleye stocking and strict regulatory measures are some steps that help to keep the numbers growing.