Also known as
- Yellow Pike US
- Yellow Pickerel US
- Walleyed Pike US
- Marble Eye US
- Glass Eye US
Identification
An elongated torpedo-shaped North American freshwater predator with a compressed cross-section built for efficient low-light cruising. Sustained resistance rather than explosive runs. Females grow larger than males.
- Large reflective silvery eyes with a light-gathering tapetum lucidum — the defining field mark
- Olive-gold body with darker saddle-like vertical markings across the back
- Two clearly separated back fins — spiny front, soft-rayed rear
- White tip on the lower lobe of the tail
Where it holds
- Lakes
- Rivers
- Wetlands
Behaviour
A low-light ambush predator relying on a light-gathering tapetum lucidum to outhunt prey in dim conditions. Adults feed almost exclusively on baitfish, supplemented by crayfish and large insects. Holds tight to sand/gravel bottoms, rocky points, weed edges, and current seams during daylight, sliding shallower at dusk to feed. Feeding peaks at dawn, dusk, and through the night; midday windows open under wind chop and overcast. Most active at 18-23°C (64-73°F).
Diet: Shad, Perch, Shiners, Smelt, Crayfish
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Jigging
Vertical-drop or swim 1/8-1/2oz jigs tipped with a minnow, nightcrawler, or soft-plastic body along sand/gravel flats, rocky points, and river current seams. Slow lift-drop cadences with long pauses; most strikes come on the fall. The single most productive technique on most walleye water.
Trolling
Troll deep-diving crankbaits, spinner/nightcrawler harnesses, and minnow plugs at 0.8-1.5 knots along depth contours, breaklines, and over basin flats. Planer boards spread the pattern; lead-core or snap-weights dial in depth. The go-to search tactic on large lakes.
Live Lining
Lindy-rig or slow-drift a live minnow, nightcrawler, or leech along bottom structure with minimal weight. Feed line on the initial pickup before setting — walleye mouth baits before committing. Excels when fish are cold, pressured, or negative.
Spinning
Cast swimbaits on jigheads, blade baits, lipless crankbaits, and suspending jerkbaits to rocky points, weed edges, and shallow flats at dawn and dusk. Slow steady retrieves with pauses; rip-and-drop blade baits trigger winter and cold-front fish.
Float Fishing
Slip-bobber a leech, minnow, or nightcrawler set precisely over rocky humps, reefs, and weed edges. Lets bait hover at the strike zone for a long, methodical presentation. Deadly on suspending fish during warm-water evenings.
Ice Fishing
Jig small spoons, blade baits, or jig-and-minnow-head combos near bottom over known humps, points, and basin edges. Run a deadstick rod with a live minnow on a plain hook alongside the jigging rod — the deadstick catches many fish that follow-and-refuse the jig.
