🏞️ Freshwater

Walleye

Sander vitreus

The walleye is the most popular sport fish in Canada and a favorite throughout the northern United States. Named for its large, glassy eyes that contain a reflective layer (tapetum lucidum) that helps it see and hunt in low-light conditions, the walleye is a highly effective predator. It is also considered one of the best-tasting freshwater fish, with firm, white, mild-flavored fillets.

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Typical Size
12–30 inches (30–76 cm) typical
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Weight
1–8 lbs (0.45–3.6 kg) typical; record over 25 lbs (11.3 kg)
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Lifespan
5–15 years; females live longer and grow larger
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Water Type
Freshwater

🗺️ Habitat

Large lakes and rivers with cool, clear to slightly turbid water. Common throughout the Great Lakes region and rivers of central and northern North America.

🔍 How to Identify Walleye

  • 1Large, glassy, white eyes with reflective tapetum lucidum
  • 2Gold and olive body with brassy tones
  • 3White tip on the lower lobe of the tail — a key identification feature
  • 4Dark spot at the base of the last few dorsal spines
  • 5Sharp canine teeth in the mouth

🍽️ Diet

Primarily fish (yellow perch, cisco, shiners), crayfish, and aquatic insects

💡 Fun Facts About Walleye

  • ★Walleye eyes glow in the dark due to the tapetum lucidum, similar to cats
  • ★They are most active at dawn, dusk, and on cloudy days, avoiding bright light
  • ★Walleye fishing is worth over $1 billion per year to the U.S. economy
  • ★They are the provincial fish of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the state fish of Minnesota and South Dakota
  • ★Walleye can hybridize with sauger, producing a hybrid called "saugeye" that is stocked in some reservoirs

🛡️ Conservation Status

Least Concern — managed as a valuable sport fishery

🔗 Related Species

Yellow Perch

Identify Walleye Instantly with AI

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Learn more:

How to Identify Fish: A Beginner's GuideMost Common Freshwater Fish in North America← Back to All Fish Species