Walleye

Sander vitreus

Least Concern Brackish

Max Length

107.0 cm

Max Weight

11.3 kg

Color

Golden-olive to brassy-yellow flanks with …

Depth Range

0-27m

Family

Percidae

Overview

The largest member of the perch family, the walleye takes its name from large, glassy eyes backed by a reflective tapetum that grants exceptional low-light vision. Golden-olive with dark saddle blotches and a white-tipped lower tail lobe, it reaches about 107 centimetres in the clear, deep lakes and large rivers of North America east of the Rockies. Its keen night vision makes dawn and dusk prime feeding times, when it hunts over sand and gravel. Widely regarded as one of the finest freshwater food fishes on the continent, it offers sweet, flaky, very lean white flesh, classically pan-fried. Popular and widespread, the species is assessed as Least Concern.

About

The walleye is the largest member of the perch family and the most sought-after freshwater food fish in North America. Its reflective eyes give it exceptional low-light vision, making dawn and dusk prime feeding times.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value
Maximum Length	107.0 cm
Maximum Weight	11.3 kg
Depth Range	0-27m

Coloration

Golden-olive to brassy-yellow flanks with a mottled pattern of saddle-like dark blotches; distinctive white tip on lower tail lobe; large glassy eyes with reflective tapetum.

Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater lakes and rivers of North America east of the Rockies, from Canada to Tennessee. Inhabits clear, deep lakes and large rivers over sand and gravel at depths of 3-15m. Migrates to tributaries to spawn in spring.

Water Type

Brackish

Depth Range

0-27m

Geographic Range

Countries

🇺🇸 United States

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Distribution Map

Present Not recorded countries

Conservation Status

Least Concern IUCN Red List

Walleye is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Edibility & Culinary

Taste

Considered one of the best-tasting freshwater fish; sweet, flaky white flesh with very low fat. Ideal pan-fried, battered, or baked — a North American culinary favorite.

Fishing Information

Game Fish

Yes

Fight Rating

5/5

Recommended Bait

jigs, minnows, nightcrawlers, crankbaits, spinner rigs

Fishing Seasons

Amazon Basin — Good Amazon Basin — Good Amazon Basin — Fair Amazon Basin — Fair Amazon Basin — Peak Season Amazon Basin — Peak Season Amazon Basin — Peak Season Amazon Basin — Good Amazon Basin — Good Amazon Basin — Fair Amazon Basin — Fair Amazon Basin — Good Florida Keys — Good Florida Keys — Good Florida Keys — Fair Florida Keys — Fair Florida Keys — Peak Season Florida Keys — Peak Season Florida Keys — Peak Season Florida Keys — Good Florida Keys — Good Florida Keys — Fair Florida Keys — Fair Florida Keys — Good Great Barrier Reef — Good Great Barrier Reef — Good Great Barrier Reef — Fair Great Barrier Reef — Fair Great Barrier Reef — Peak Season Great Barrier Reef — Peak Season Great Barrier Reef — Peak Season Great Barrier Reef — Good Great Barrier Reef — Good Great Barrier Reef — Fair Great Barrier Reef — Fair Great Barrier Reef — Good Great Lakes — Poor Great Lakes — Poor Great Lakes — Fair Great Lakes — Good Great Lakes — Peak Season Great Lakes — Peak Season Great Lakes — Good Great Lakes — Good Great Lakes — Fair Great Lakes — Fair Great Lakes — Poor Great Lakes — Poor Lofoten Islands — Closed Season Lofoten Islands — Closed Season Lofoten Islands — Closed Season Lofoten Islands — Poor Lofoten Islands — Fair Lofoten Islands — Good Lofoten Islands — Peak Season Lofoten Islands — Good Lofoten Islands — Fair Lofoten Islands — Poor Lofoten Islands — Closed Season Lofoten Islands — Closed Season

Taxonomy

Order	Perciformes (Perch-like fishes)
Family	Percidae (Perches)
Species	Sander vitreus

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
Arabic	سمك الجاحظ
Chinese (Simplified)	玻璃梭鱸
French	Doré jaune
German	Glasaugenbarsch
Indonesian	Bares mulut-besar
Japanese	ウォールアイ
Korean	월아이피시
Russian	Светлопёрый судак
Spanish	Lucioperca americana

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you eat Walleye?

Considered one of the best-tasting freshwater fish; sweet, flaky white flesh with very low fat. Ideal pan-fried, battered, or baked — a North American culinary favorite.

How big does Walleye get?

Walleye can grow up to 107.0 cm long and weigh 11.3 kg.

Where is Walleye found?

Native to Canada and the northern United States, including the Great Lakes basin and major river drainages such as the Missouri and Ohio rivers. Introduced throughout the western US; marginally tolerates low-salinity brackish conditions. Freshwater lakes and rivers of North America east of the Rockies, from Canada to Tennessee. Inhabits clear, deep lakes and large rivers over sand and gravel at depths of 3-15m. Migrates to tributaries

Is Walleye endangered?

The conservation status of Walleye is Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

What family does Walleye belong to?

Walleye (Sander vitreus) belongs to the family Percidae (Perches) in the order Perciformes (Perch-like fishes).