freshwater
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Elongated, slender body shape with a large, toothed mouth and large, opaque, reflective eyes adapted for low-light vision. Olive and gold coloration with dark vertical bars on the sides and a prominent white tip on the lower lobe of the caudal fin. Two distinct dorsal fins, the first spiny and the second soft-rayed.
- Habitat
- Found in large, clear to moderately turbid freshwater la…
- Size & weight
- Typically ranges from 15 to 20 inches in length and 1 to…
- Diet
- Carnivorous apex predator feeding primarily on other fis…
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Physical characteristics
Elongated, slender body shape with a large, toothed mouth and large, opaque, reflective eyes adapted for low-light vision. Olive and gold coloration with dark vertical bars on the sides and a prominent white tip on the lower lobe of the caudal fin. Two distinct dorsal fins, the first spiny and the second soft-rayed.
Habitat & distribution
Found in large, clear to moderately turbid freshwater lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across North America, favoring deep water during bright daylight and moving to shallow rocky reefs, weed beds, or shorelines at night or during twilight.
Behavior
Generally schooling and somewhat nocturnal or crepuscular, spending daylight hours holding in deeper water or near bottom structures and migrating to shallow areas to feed at dawn and dusk.
Diet
Carnivorous apex predator feeding primarily on other fishes such as yellow perch, minnows, and shiners, as well as aquatic insects and crayfish, often hunting actively during low-light conditions.
Reproduction
Spawns in early spring shortly after ice-out, migrating up tributary streams or congregating over rocky shoals and gravel reefs in lakes to broadcast eggs randomly without parental care.
Ecological role
Acts as a top apex predator in many freshwater ecosystems, helping regulate the populations of smaller forage fish and maintaining balance within aquatic food webs.
Similar species
Sauger (Sander canadensis), which can be distinguished by spots on its spiny dorsal fin and a lack of a white tip on the lower tail lobe, and Saugeye, a hybrid between a walleye and sauger.
Identification tips
Look for the large opaque eyes, dark brassy-olive sides with faint dark saddles, the white tip on the lower tail fin, and the separated spiny and soft dorsal fins.
Interesting facts
Walleyes get their name from their pearlescent, milky eyes, which contain a specialized layer called the tapetum lucidum that helps them see and hunt effectively in murky water or in near-total darkness.
Field notes
Lake of the Woods