Walleye
Sander vitreus · Percidae
Also known as: Walleyed pike (misnomer), Pickerel (Canada), Marble eye
A prized cool-water gamefish famous for low-light feeding and superb table quality.
- Typical size
- 0.5–2 kg (1–4 lb)
- Max size
- Trophy fish exceed 4.5 kg (10 lb).
- Water
- Freshwater
- Best season
- Spring and fall; low-light periods year-round.
Identification
Golden-olive body, a white-tipped lower tail, and large glassy eyes that reflect light — an adaptation for hunting in the dark.
Habitat & Range
Large lakes, reservoirs, and rivers with clean bottoms; light-sensitive, so it feeds at dawn, dusk, and night, or in stained water.
Native to central and northern North America; widely stocked.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily baitfish (perch, shad), plus insects and crayfish.
Spawning & Reproduction
Early spring over rocky reefs and river gravel, usually at night; no parental care.
Spawning windowSource-verified
- Run begins
- Apr 1
- Peak
- Apr 20
- Ends
- May 15
- Redd temperature
- 42–50°F
Two figures, both from Wisconsin DNR: the spawning migration begins soon after ice-out at 38-44F, and spawning peaks at 42-50F. Minnesota DNR puts the run properly underway around 45F. Walleye are broadcast spawners - not territorial, no nest, no parental care - over rock, rubble and gravel in rivers or windswept shallows in 1 to 6 feet of water, where current clears fine sediment and aerates the eggs. Wisconsin spawning generally runs mid-April to early May, occasionally from the start of April to mid-May.
Timing is modelled for a mid-latitude reference population — fish the thermometer, not the calendar. Based on 2 cited sources.
Spawning timing by location
Spawning tracks water temperature, so the calendar shifts with latitude and elevation. These break walleye timing down by state and water body.
- How to Catch Walleye Through the Ice
A walleye's eye is built for gloom, and snow-covered ice creates exactly that. Wisconsin DNR puts winter walleye along shorelines and in shallow bays, taken on tip-ups with minnows. The rest is timing: the low-light windows at each end of the day are the whole pattern.
- How to Catch Walleye from Shore at Night
After dark walleye move into water shallow enough to wade, which is exactly why the bank angler can compete with the boat. Work shoreline structure with a slow, shallow-running bait — and keep your light off the water, because the reason they came shallow is that it got dark.
- When Do Walleye Spawn in Michigan?
Michigan walleye spawn from late March into April, peaking at 42–50°F. But the state has two of North America's biggest runs, and they don't peak at the same time.
- When Do Walleye Spawn in Minnesota?
Minnesota walleye spawn shortly after ice-out, peaking when water hits 42–50°F — usually April. Males show up first in water barely above freezing, and the big females arrive last.
How to Catch
Work bottom structure and edges at dawn, dusk, and after dark. A slow, bottom-hugging presentation usually wins.
Best techniques
- Jigging
- Live-bait rigs (Lindy)
- Trolling crankbaits & crawler harnesses
Lures & baits
- Jig & minnow
- Nightcrawlers & leeches
- Crankbaits
Best season: Spring and fall; low-light periods year-round.