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Viewing Walleye - The Facts That can Help You Catch the TrophiesWalleye - The Facts That can Help You Catch the Trophies
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This pike-like freshwater perch is native to the northern United States and southern Canada. The walleye is considered the North American relative of the European pikeperch. Read this article for more details. By Robert W. Benjamin This pike-like freshwater perch is a 'perciform' fish native to the northern United States and southern Canada. Walleye (Sander vitreus, or Stizostedion vitreum) is considered the North American relative of the European pikeperch, although they are not from the same family. Walleye are usually larger than perch and can be distinguished from them by their scale color. Some walleyes are often referred to as yellow pike or pickerel, although this name should be discouraged because they are not pikeperch or pickerel fish, but yellow walleye is the right name, also used to distinguish it from the extinct blue walleye. Walleyes show some variation across watersheds, and the peculiar name comes from the fact that their eyes, not unlike those of cats, reflect light. The light on the eyes of the walleye is the result of a light-gathering layer called the tapetum lucidum. This characteristic allows the fish to see well in low-light conditions. Because walleyes feed at night, anglers often look for them in the dark, secure in the knowledge of their luminescent eyes. This fish can also see well in stained or rough turbid waters, giving them an advantage over their prey. Walleye are often found at the breaking waters of Minnesota, in the Mille Lacs Lake, Brainerd Lakes Area, Lake of the Woods, Rainy River, Kabetogama Lake, Leech Lake, Saint Croix River and the Mississippi River. Other states with walleye in their waters include Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, Montana and Nebraska, as well as in Canada, particularly in the Ontario and Toronto areas. Walleye may be found lurking in turbid waters, but their natural habitat is located in clean waters, particularly deep mesotrophic lakes and moderate to low-gradient rivers. Walleye are 'cool water' species that grow to about 30 inches (75 cm.) in length, weighing approximately 15 lb. (7 kg.), although their growth rate depends sometimes on where in their range they occur. Southern populations usually grow larger and faster than other fish of the same family; however, females of all walleye species grow larger than males. It is not normal to find a walleye older that 5 or 6 years, but it is known that they can live for several decades. The oldest walleye recorded reached 29 years of age. Walleye are olive color in dorsal with golden hue on the flanks, broken up by 5 dark saddles extending to their upper sides, and distinguished from sauger by the white coloration on the lower lobe of the tail. Walleye are best caught when the water temperatures get below 55 degrees F; this is the reason why this fish is the favorite catch during fall. That is when the turbidity of the rivers subsides. Walleye can see their food floating, making it easier for the angler to detect their activity. There is a website that has great information on most species of freshwater fish. It has details that pertain to each species of fish such as habitat, spawning, eating habits, the best lures and baits, and more, the website is called: Fishing Stringer, and can be found at this url: http://www.fishingstringer.com. About the Author: Copyright (c) 2007 Robert W. Benjamin. You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your website as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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