Skip to main content

Walleye

Walleye

Walleye are the largest member of the perch family and are not native to North Carolina but have established reproducing populations in specific basins.

These cool-water predators are visual predators that become schooling fish for the remainder of their lives after their first year.

Physical Characteristics:
  • Feature a long, slender body with large canine teeth, large eyes, and two separate dorsal fins.
  • In North Carolina, they display silvery to gray coloration with a white or cream belly, darker backs with 7-9 saddles, a black spot at the posterior base of the first dorsal fin, and a distinctive white spot on the lower portion of the tail fin.
  • Grow rapidly in North Carolina, averaging 14-18 inches and 3/4 to 1 1/2 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Have established reproducing populations in the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, and upper Catawba river basins in western North Carolina, plus Lake Gaston.

Key Locations

  • Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, and upper Catawba river basins in western North Carolina, plus Lake Gaston (stocked by Virginia).
  • North Carolina's mountain reservoirs like those in the Hiwassee and Little Tennessee basins.
  • Lake Gaston offers excellent opportunities in the Piedmont region.

Specific Spots

  • Inhabit moderate depths of 20-60 feet over hard bottoms composed of clay, gravel, boulders, or bedrock.
  • Target around rocky structures, points, underwater humps, and current breaks.
  • Focus on rocky areas and dam structures.
  • Prefer lake environments.

Walleye FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Walleye in North Carolina?

Round-head chartreuse jigs are preferred, but green, white, red, and orange also produce. Tipping jigs with minnows or nightcrawlers increases success. Spinner rigs and crankbaits for trolling.

What flies work for Walleye in North Carolina?

Clouser minnows in blue/white, firetiger, and all-black patterns work well, along with woolly buggers, deceivers, sculpin patterns, balanced leeches, and leech imitations.

When is the best time to fish for Walleye in North Carolina?

Most effective walleye fishing occurs from April through October, with peak action in summer months (May-August). During summer heat, fish early morning or late evening when walleye move shallower to feed. Avoid targeting during spawning period (late February through March).

How do you catch Walleye in North Carolina?

Jigs are the primary lure choice - cast parallel to the boat, let sink, then create a hopping motion using only the wrist. Make the jig hop 6-12 inches off bottom while retrieving between hops, slacking the line after each hop.

What do Walleye eat?

Primarily feed on threadfin shad but also consume small bass, trout, perch, sunfish, crayfish, leeches, and insects, typically feeding at night on or near the bottom.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Walleye.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Walleye water

    Pick Walleye and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Walleye

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Walleye are.

Open the map, filter by Walleye, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

North Carolina licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Explore North Carolina waters

Top fishing waters

Popular Cities

Loading popular cities...

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.