Body Type & Identification: Olive-gold to brown with brassy mottling and a distinctive white tip on the lower lobe of the tail. Large, glassy eyes with a reflective tapetum that glow in low light — an adaptation for feeding in low-light conditions. The most popular table fish in freshwater North America — the premier food fish of the Great Lakes.
Preferred Water Temperature: 60°F–72°F. A low-light feeder most active at dawn, dusk, and night — their specialized eyes give them a major advantage over prey in dim conditions. Most active when light levels are low — overcast days, dawn, dusk, and after dark produce the best action.
Habitat: Large lakes, reservoirs, and rivers of the Great Lakes region, upper Midwest, and Canada. Prefer open water with sand, gravel, or rocky bottom — often found over mid-lake humps, rocky points, and river channel edges. Extremely popular ice fishing target throughout the northern US and Canada.
Best Lures: Jigs (1/8–3/8 oz) with soft plastic bodies or live minnows are the all-time top producers — jigged slowly near bottom. Trolling with spinner rigs (bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses) covers water effectively and produces large fish. Jigging Raps and blade baits in winter through the ice are outstanding. Lindy Rigs with live minnows are a classic presentation. Crankbaits trolled at night produce trophy fish on large lakes.
Best Baits: Live minnows (fathead minnows, emerald shiners) are the top natural bait — hooked through the lips on a jig or Lindy Rig and worked slowly near bottom. Nightcrawlers on a spinner harness are outstanding in summer. Large leeches are excellent especially in summer — very popular in Minnesota. Live small perch produce large Walleye where legal.
Top 5 Destinations: Lake Erie OH/PA/NY, Lake of the Woods MN/Canada, Mille Lacs Lake MN, Devils Lake ND, Fort Peck Lake MT.
Olive-gold to brown with brassy mottling and a distinctive white tip on the lower lobe of the tail. Large, glassy eyes with a reflective tapetum that glow in low light — an adaptation for feeding in low-light conditions. The most popular table fish in freshwater North America — the premier food fish of the Great Lakes.
Habitat
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Large lakes, reservoirs, and rivers of the Great Lakes region, upper Midwest, and Canada. Prefer open water with sand, gravel, or rocky bottom — often found over mid-lake humps, rocky points, and river channel edges. Extremely popular ice fishing target throughout the northern US and Canada.
Water Conditions
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60°F–72°F. A low-light feeder most active at dawn, dusk, and night — their specialized eyes give them a major advantage over prey in dim conditions. Most active when light levels are low — overcast days, dawn, dusk, and after dark produce the best action.
Tackle & Bait
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Best Lures:
Jigs (1/8–3/8 oz) with soft plastic bodies or live minnows are the all-time top producers — jigged slowly near bottom. Trolling with spinner rigs (bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses) covers water effectively and produces large fish. Jigging Raps and blade baits in winter through the ice are outstanding. Lindy Rigs with live minnows are a classic presentation. Crankbaits trolled at night produce trophy fish on large lakes.
Best Baits:
Live minnows (fathead minnows, emerald shiners) are the top natural bait — hooked through the lips on a jig or Lindy Rig and worked slowly near bottom. Nightcrawlers on a spinner harness are outstanding in summer. Large leeches are excellent especially in summer — very popular in Minnesota. Live small perch produce large Walleye where legal.
Top Fishing Locations
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Filter by State:
60 fishing locations where you can catch Walleye
Lake Erie
🏞️ Freshwater
Saly River
🏞️ Freshwater
Holt Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
AL
Canyon Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Tortilla Flat, AZ
Canyon Lake (AZ)
🏞️ Freshwater
Apache Junction, AZ
Lake Powell
🏞️ Freshwater
AZ
Lyman Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Springerville, AZ
Mogollon Rim Lakes
🏞️ Freshwater
Payson, AZ
Saguaro Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Sunflower, AZ
Sheeps Crossing
🏞️ Freshwater
Greer, AZ
Show Low Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Show Low, AZ
Sow Low Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Show Low, AZ
Upper & Lower Lake Mary
🏞️ Freshwater
Flagstaff, AZ
Patterson Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Alturas, CA
Boyd Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Loveland, CO
Chatfield Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Wolhurst, CO
Douglas Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Wellington, CO
John Martin Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Fort Lyon, CO
North Sterling Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Sterling, CO
Pueblo Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Pueblo, CO
Standley Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Westminster, CO
Aurora Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Aurora, Colorado
Bear River
🏞️ Freshwater
Bear Lake, ID
Lake Pend Oreille
🏞️ Freshwater
Sandpoint, ID
Lower Goose Creek Reservoir (Oakley Reservoir)
🏞️ Freshwater
Oakley, ID
Oneida Narrows Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Thatcher, ID
Salmon Falls Creek
🏞️ Freshwater
Twin Falls, ID
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Twin Falls, ID
Bailey Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Kremlin, Montana
Beaver Creek Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Missoula County, Montana
Fresno Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Havre, Montana
H.C. Kuhr Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Granite Creek, Montana
Hauser Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Lakeside, Montana
Hollecker Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Glendive, Montana
Holter Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Wolf Creek, Montana
Kolar Reservoir 1
🏞️ Freshwater
Geyser, Montana
Lake Five
🏞️ Freshwater
Coram, Montana
Lake Frances
🏞️ Freshwater
Valier, Montana
Pelican Point
🏞️ Freshwater
Hardy, Montana
Petrolia Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Winnett, Montana
South Sandstone Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Plevna, Montana
Spotted Eagle Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Miles City, Montana
Fort Peck Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Fort Peck, MT
Caballo Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Caballo, New Mexico
Conchas Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Conchas, New Mexico
Santa Rosa Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Chimney Dam Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Winnemucca, NV
Humboldt River
🏞️ Freshwater
NV
Lahontan Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Silver Springs, NV
Lake Mead
🏞️ Freshwater
Boulder City, NV
Rye Patch Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Lovelock, NV
Lake Erie - Ashtabula, Ohio
🏞️ Freshwater
Ashtabula, OH
Lake Erie - Lorain, Ohio
🏞️ Freshwater
Loraine, OH
Lake Erie - Oak Harbor, Ohio
🏞️ Freshwater
Oak Harbor, OH
Columbia River
🏞️ Freshwater
OR
Commonwealth Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Cedar Hills, OR
Big Sandwash Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Altamont, UT
Deer Creek Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Charleston, UT
Holmes Creek Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Layton, UT
Hyrum Reservoir & State Park
🏞️ Freshwater
Hyrum, UT
From the Angler's Guide
Lake Erie OH/PA/NY, Lake of the Woods MN/Canada, Mille Lacs Lake MN, Devils Lake ND, Fort Peck Lake MT.
Whoppers — Biggest Catches
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🥇
5.00 lbs
Doig
Columbia RiverJun 17, 2020
🥈
3.40 lbs
Jim Klaassen
Columbia RiverMar 1, 2019
🥉
3.20 lbs
David
Columbia RiverMar 13, 2019
#4
2.50 lbs
Jessica
Columbia RiverMar 1, 2019
State & Agency Records
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6 official records on file for Walleye
🥇
19 lbs. 15 oz.
Arnold Berg
Columbia RiverJan 1, 1990Freshwater AnglingODFW
#2
17 lbs. 7 oz.
L: 34.0" · G: 21.0"
Stan Seivewright
Boysen Lake, Riverton, WyomingDec 28, 1991Freshwater AnglingWYGF
#3
16 lbs. 9 oz.
G.L. Peppers
Clayton Lake, Union County, New MexicoDec 31, 1969Freshwater AnglingNMGF
#4
15 lbs. 9 oz.
L: 31.8" · G: 20.8"
Jeffery Tanner
Provo River, Provo, UtahNov 26, 1991Freshwater Angling
#5
15 lbs. 4 oz.
L: 33.0"
Billy Foster
Lahontan Reservoir, Silver Springs, NVApr 10, 1998Freshwater AnglingNDOW