Walleye
Know your fish
Walleye
Also calledpickerel
Sander vitreus
Typical size:35–65 cm, 0.6–3.5 kg
- Glassy, reflective eyes
- Olive-gold with a white tip on the lower lobe of the tail
- Two separate dorsal fins, the first spiny with a dark blotch at the rear
Looks like: Sauger is smaller with spots on the dorsal fin and no white tail tip.
0255075100125150
cm
OK to keep
- Provincial rules; most provinces use size slots (e.g. keep one over 50 cm or only under 45 cm)
Must release
- Fish in the protected slot for that water
Best months
May, June, July, August, September, October
Fishing licences across Canada
Rig to tie
- 1Main line 20–30 lb braid
- 2Swivel Size 4 barrel swivel
- 3Leader 20 lb fluorocarbon, 60 cm
- 4Jig head 1–2 oz round head, 3/0 hook (1/2–1 oz for greenling)
- 5Soft plastic 4–5 in curl tail or paddle tail, dark, motor oil or white
How to tie and fish it
Tie it:Tie braid to swivel with a Palomar. Tie leader to swivel and to the jig head with an improved clinch. Thread the plastic straight so it does not spin.
Fish it:Cast to the kelp edge or boulder seam, let it hit bottom, lift 30 cm and drop. Hits come on the drop. Set hard and lift the fish off the rocks immediately.