HABITAT

The walleye thrives in clear, relatively cool lakes and rivers, especially in waters where extensive forage and spawning areas exist. This adaptable fish can also be found in numbers in reservoirs.

It is like every other species within our freshwater system, having characteristics that separate it from the others. One of the common differentiating factors is choice of habitat. For instance, it may be common to find a school of walleyes down the side of a 20-foot sunken island, but you may be hard pressed to catch a largemouth bass in the same location. Conversely, a patch of lily pads is a well-known classic largemouth haunt, but it is not the place to expect to find a group of walleyes. 

Distribution

The walleye entertains many anglers since it covers a wide range of freshwater areas. In Canada, it is a common catch from Quebec all the way west to most of Alberta and even reaches into parts of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Its range also extends south, covering much of the Midwest and tapering off towards southern Alabama.

In the past several decades, walleyes have been stocked in many impoundments, particularly in the United States. At one time there was a subspecies called the blue walleye but it is now rare or extinct in most areas.

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