You are listening to What’s The Catch? the podcast with your host Andrew Rowan.

In this episode of What’s The Catch? We’re gonna be talking about Walleye :what they are, where to find them, how to catch them, and why you should want to catch them. 

The Walleye, also known as the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater fish native to the northern United States and almost all of Canada. They are gold and olive in color with a white underbelly. Their mouths are large with sharp teeth. Adult Walleye are usually gonna be between 2.5-3 feet long and weigh around 10-20 pounds. The average lifespan of a Walleye will typically be about 7 years.

Fun Facts

• They get their name their cloudy-looking eye, which is caused by this layer of pigment called the tapetum lucidum that helps the Walleye see in low light
• It is the state fish of Ohio,Minnesota, South Dakota , and Vermont
• A female can lay up to 600,000 eggs a year
• They have their ‘taste buds’ on their lips

They are native to Canada, the Great lakes, the Missouri River basin and the upper Mississippi River Basin, but have been able to be spread to the western and northeastern parts of the United States. These guys prefer cool, deep, and calm waters of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. They are mostly nocturnal and during the day mostly take cover under logs and aquatic vegetation.so the prime time to be catching them is around dawn or at night. It seems to be going nowhere but up for walleye fishing in the state. Walleye fishing in New Jersey has been growing in popularity over the last couple of years. 

Places near/in hopewell

• Delaware River
• Monksville Reservoir
• Swartswood lake
• Lake Hopatcong

Rods to use

• Spinning rod 
• Ice Fishing Rod if ice fishing 

Best line

• 12-25 lb braid
• 6-14 lb monofilament

Best live bait