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 10 Blue Walleye? (Read 7121 times)
DentonDoc
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Blue Walleye?
May 29th, 2010 at 4:23pm
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In a brief conversation with my outfitter about an upcoming solo trip to Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, he mention that I'd be on waters holding blue walleye during a portion of my trip.

From my limited research, I've determined that the species is actually more silver in color with a blueish mucus sheen.  They tend to have somewhat larger eyes than the standard walleye, assumed to be a function of the deeper waters they tend to prefer (40 to 60 feet).  They also tend to run somewhat smaller.

Anyone with experience fishing this species?  Any variations from your standard approach for fishing walleye?  I'd think that the depth issue might significantly alter the approach.  Any specific regulations you are aware of that impact blue walleye ... like catch and release only?

dd
  
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PhantomJug
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #1 - May 29th, 2010 at 5:30pm
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The walleye in Cirrus are blue too - all of them; shallow, deep - they all seem to have the same color and we don't fish them any different.  Move down to Quetico, Kasa or Soho and they are the gold color again.  We've caught blueish walleye in Jean but not the brilliant color of Cirrus.  I've never received a solid answer as to why either.  If you find out let us know.
  
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marlin55388
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #2 - May 29th, 2010 at 6:31pm
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From my understanding which is limited there are "blues" in Lake Erie too. The "blues" are just a sub-species of the eye tribe. Take photos to share the next time you all catch them, to share with us Wink DD your probably right with the notion that they are more of a silver than the typical black and gold and the bluish cast coming from the refraction of light through the their covering of slime Wink Sounds like a good photo op to me Wink
  
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Kingfisher
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #3 - May 29th, 2010 at 10:02pm
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Back in 2002 I gained notoriety among Milwaukee fishing circles after catching 2 blue walleyes from a local 700 acre lake. After doing a little research I found out that blue walleyes or blue pike as they were called then were once the predominant walleye in Lake Michigan and other great lakes. They were fished to near extinction and then later replaced by the usual golden colored walleye.  As happened with smallmouth bass, "amateur" fish stockers had spread a few around Wisconsin, Canadian and probably Minnesota lakes. At one time they were rather common in many popular Canadian lakes.
Here is a pre digital photo of one of my blue walleyes held alongside a normal golden walleye. The blue measured 16".

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Kingfisher
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #4 - May 29th, 2010 at 10:15pm
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dd I would not expect blue walleyes to behave any differently than your standard walleye. They do inter breed.
The description you gave above sounds almost like someone might have been confusing saugers with blue walleyes. Saugers are also present in some Canada lakes and do run smaller and skinnier than walleyes and do generally occupy deeper waters. They also have a slightly different color pattern that may go unnoticed at first glance.
  
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Preacher
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #5 - May 31st, 2010 at 4:33pm
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Extinct?  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Aparantly there's a difference between Blue Walleye and a Walleye with blue colouration.
  
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Snow_Dog
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #6 - Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:39am
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One of the links on the wikipedia page: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) gives some good info on the blue coloration and how it is formed.  Basically, it is walleye "sunscreen".

This article references the first link I posted but gives a bit more background:  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
  
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RedOwl
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #7 - Jun 1st, 2010 at 3:53am
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We've caught them on Conmee Lake and the they were the same large size as the gold ones.

//Windsailor
  
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Jim J Solo
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #8 - Jun 7th, 2010 at 3:42pm
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DD, Fish them the same as all walleye. The ones in the pic we caught on the Steel River. The first thing I noticed was how dark these were. But later I noticed a blue stain on my hands from handling & cleaning them.
  
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Which-Way-U-Wagon
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Re: Blue Walleye?
Reply #9 - Jun 18th, 2010 at 6:42am
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Keep fishing the lakes you hear they are at, but most of all keep fishing walleyes wherever you are at.
They are a Blue Bueaty when you catch them. In no way a myth.
I feel the clearest lakes are the ones that give the blue strain the best chance.
Always there is shades of blue, the Walleye scale does shade. It is not in their slime...
  
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