| Walleye fish are among the most highly sought | | | | February to April at night until about 4 in the |
| fish in the Great Lakes region by fishermen, but | | | | morning. It's a common sound to hear a walleye |
| they're also very hard to catch. Fishermen | | | | female attending to several smaller walleye males. |
| understand the habits of the walleye, but for | | | | Pairs of fish do have a sort of courting ritual |
| someone just starting out and deciding they want | | | | that's performed in deeper water, but then they |
| this fish as a trophy for themselves need to | | | | spawn in groups in the shallower water. The |
| understand some things about the walleye's | | | | spawning of walleye fish is rather mismatches in |
| feeding, spawning and habitats in order to learn | | | | ration sometimes there can be five males to one |
| how to detect and catch them. | | | | female. This helps there to be more variety in |
| In spring, the lengthening days and the increasing | | | | genetics so more of the young would survive. |
| temperatures bring walleye fish to spawn in Lake | | | | The eggs are released so that they cling to the |
| Erie and the nearby rivers. This is a very | | | | bottom of the river, but the walleye adults don't |
| wandering species they have been known to | | | | care for these eggs in any way as the spawning |
| travel upwards of a hundred miles to find a good | | | | goes on for approximately three weeks, during |
| spot. They don't wander in the river aimlessly | | | | which time the eggs incubate. The yolk sac of the |
| though walleye often return to their home | | | | egg is quickly absorbed and the new-hatched fish |
| streams to spawn if they're able to. | | | | go feeding, mainly on microscopic animals. When |
| Usually, males get to their spawning place first, | | | | they grow slightly larger they start eating insects, |
| and they also are the first to make the return | | | | and begin eating very small fish when they reach |
| trip. Some walleye populations essentially swim in | | | | two inches in length. Fish are the main diet of |
| schools, usually in the eastern parts of Lake Erie. | | | | walleyes. Some of the most common fish that |
| The walleye fish that live in the eastern part of | | | | are eaten by walleye are minnows, suckers, |
| Lake Erie require different living conditions than | | | | bluegill, and yellow perch. |
| those in the west. | | | | By the first year, walleye can reach a length of |
| Walleye usually prefer to spawn in gravelly | | | | six inches, and every year after that can add |
| clear-flowing water, and more rocky shoals in | | | | from four to six inches, but this varies between |
| lakes that are buffeted by wind. Walleye favor | | | | fish. If a walleye lives to be 10 years old, it can |
| rocky, wind and wave swept shoals in lakes. The | | | | reach nearly three feet, because walleye never |
| urge to spawn begins approximately when the | | | | stop growing. They have to eat almost |
| river water is about 38 to 45-degree water. The | | | | constantly. Other foods that walleye eat are |
| spawning occurs in shallow waters from | | | | mayflies, frogs, crayfish and snails. |