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Walleye

Walleye

Walleye are Minnesota's official state fish and one of the most targeted sportfish in the state, inhabiting over 1,500 lakes with approved management plans. These coolwater predatory fish are opportunistic predators.

Scientific Name: Sander vitreus

Physical Characteristics:
  • These coolwater predatory fish are characterized by their cloudy, opaque eyes that allow excellent low-light vision, canine-type teeth, and distinctive white-tipped tail fins with a dark spot on the dorsal fin.
  • Adult walleye in Minnesota typically range from 14-30 inches, with females growing larger and living longer (up to 25+ years) than males.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • They're found throughout Minnesota's major waters.
  • They prefer mesotrophic lakes over 100 hectares with gravel and cobble spawning substrates.

Key Locations

  • Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish, Upper Red Lake, and hundreds of smaller lakes and river systems like the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St.
  • Croix rivers.
  • Prime Minnesota walleye waters include Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish, Red Lake, Cass Lake, and the Rainy River system.

Specific Spots

  • Target structure like rocky reefs, weed edges, drop-offs, and current breaks in 6-30 feet of water.

Walleye FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Walleye in Minnesota?

Essential lures include 1/8 to 3/8 oz jigs (tungsten standup jigs, Northland Deep Vee, or Weed-Weasel) paired with soft plastics like Eye Candy Minnows, paddle tails, or live bait such as nightcrawlers, leeches, and minnows.

What flies work for Walleye in Minnesota?

woolly buggers, Clouser minnows, sculpin patterns, leech flies, and streamers in colors like white, black, brown, purple, chartreuse, and orange.

When is the best time to fish for Walleye in Minnesota?

Walleye fishing in Minnesota is best from May through October, with peak seasons in late spring (May-June) and fall (September-October). The official Minnesota walleye season typically runs from May 10 through February 22.

How do you catch Walleye in Minnesota?

Effective presentations include jigging with plastic minnows for shallow fish, drop shot rigs with 1/16 to 3/8 oz weights for suspended fish, Ned rigs with 4-inch stick baits around weeds, slip bobber rigs with small jigs and live bait, and trolling spinner rigs or crankbaits.

What do Walleye eat?

Walleye are opportunistic predators whose diet shifts from zooplankton as fry to fish like yellow perch, cisco, gizzard shad, and minnows as adults, though they also consume insects, leeches, crayfish, and invertebrates.

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