Fun Facts about Trophy Walleye Fishing in Ontario

Summary:

Recreational fishing is a natural stress reliever. It allows the angler to quiet their mind and focus on one simple thing. Fishing for walleye is great fun! Walleye are anxiously sought fish by fishermen. They have a chance to catch the fish of their dreams. But to catch them, fishermen need to understand some facts about the walleye’s feeding habits, spawning needs, and habitats.

Benefits to Walleye Fishing:

• Recreational fishing is a natural stress reliever.
  • You get to be in a natural setting and unplugged from electronics,
  • to quite your mind,
  • and focus on one thing.

• Fishing for walleye is great fun!
  • Walleye are aggressive,
  • have predictable behavior patterns,
  • and can grow quite big.

• Walleye fillets are prized for their tenderness and flavor.

Habitat

• There are over 70,000 lakes and rivers in northwestern Ontario!
• These lakes are often stained with tannic acid from forests. This gives walleye a great advantage over its prey.
• Walleye need weeds and other cover to hide in during the day.
• They also take cover in submerged trees and other structures.
• Walleye need the water to be between 38^oF and 45^oF in the spring to spawn.
• Walleye can also be found in medium to large rivers.
• They prefer rocky bottoms, gravel, or packed sand.
• Walleye can over-winter at the bottom of a frozen lake.

Description

• Walleyes are easy to identify.
• They have sharp spines on the front dorsal fin and a softer rear dorsal fin.
• There are no spots on the dorsal fins.
• There is a dark area at the base of the front dorsal fin.
• There is a white spot on the bottom of the tail.
• The eyes of walleyes are pearlescent.
• This is what enables them to see in low-visibility, low-light conditions.
• An average walleye weighs about 1 to 3 pounds and 14” long.
• The record is a 20-pound walleye.

Behavior

• Walleyes are aggressive predator fish.
• They are at the top of the food chain in many lakes.
• They are hungry after they spawn.
• They are hungry trying to get fat for winter.
• Walleyes spawn in the spring.
• They spawn in shallow areas with gravelly bottoms.
• Walleyes are sensitive to light.
• This light sensitivity drives behavior.
• They often hunt smaller prey fish in the lake shallows in the morning and early evening.
• They lurk in deeper, darker water in midday.
• They also hunt at night when their prey doesn’t see as well.
• Walleye come closer to shore at night.