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View Full Version : Are Walleyes Right or Left handed?


Walleye Express
02-20-2003, 10:59 AM
O.K.,
I know this question may be over the top a little. And no, my boredom between ice fishing trips isn't getting to me. Believe me, I've been kept busy keeping stuff clean and in working order between trips with the wind causing much of the dirt and damage. Also had a delightful time in Grand Rapids Last Tuesday night talking with the West Michigan Walleye club boys. But what causes me to ask this question about the walleyes side preference, stems from my own experience and what I just observed while sharpening my Rattle Tot hooks.

I've often noticed that when casting at night for walleyes, and they come up and strike at the Husky Jerk near the top and just before I lift it into the boat, they'll hit it from right to left. That is, arch their bodies to the right and hit at the crank with their left side. This has happened very, very often this way. And many of the fish I catch that are not hooked exactly in the mouth, but in the side of the face are hooked on the left side of their face, and most times facing backwards.

I've also just noticed that the majority of my Rattle Tots have teeth marks on their left side, angleing from front to back. Meaning that the walleye/fish hit it from left to right. Now under these circumstances, I'd have to assume that walleyes are left handed. Humans will generally put up whatever hand they favor to protect themselves. Or catch a thrown object with whatever handed they favor. Of course I have no new terchnique to try if indeed wallyes are left or right handed. That is, not yet anyway. :-).

jerry
02-20-2003, 11:31 AM
Yes, they are right or left handed....;)

shadowman
02-20-2003, 11:59 AM
Dan i know you don,t want to admit it but you are very bored LOL!!!! i also notice this while jig fishing it seems the jig bis always planted in one side of the mouth, well i guess i,m bored also.

tj1n
02-20-2003, 12:47 PM
All the PIGGIES are left handed.... The only way they get that big is using the right side of their brain and as in humans this has only been found in LEFTIES!

OK we're all getting bored!

TJ

eyebuster
02-20-2003, 01:55 PM
YOU GUYS HAVE WAY TO MUCH TIME ON YOU HANDS!!!!!

Now with that being said, I'm going to say that they have to be right handed!!!!! Reason being, if one side is RIGHT then the other must be WRONG......LOL

Walleye Express
02-20-2003, 02:33 PM
O.K.,
I deserved all four of those answers. But don't any of your guys ask me for any one of my new lures I'm just going to have painted on the left side. :-)

Toolman
02-20-2003, 03:22 PM
Capt Dan,

The reason that you hook more 'eyes on the left side, outside the mouth may be the direction that you sweep the rod on the hookset (to the right). The walleye bumps the bait causing you to set the hook. You set the hook by sweeping the rod to the side. You hook the eyes that missed the bait from that side you are pulling toward. You don't hook the ones that miss the bait from the opposite side.

That's the best I could come up with. Come on spring!!

Tim

daveT
02-20-2003, 04:41 PM
Walleye don't have hands. It could be, the light source. Walleye/fish like to attack from the darker side, so as not to be seen coming.

Walleye Express
02-20-2003, 05:15 PM
DaveT.
Just when I thought I wouldn't get a positive answer to this querry, a light at the end of the tunnel. And indeed the dark side theory makes sense, at least for my night time fishing observations. Especially given the place and circumstances I night fish for them on the river. Good insight Dave.

P.S. And I kinda knew that walleyes didn't really have hands. :-)

ND
02-20-2003, 06:51 PM
A reminder for Capt.Dan,
Your favorite Genz worms in the xl size arrived at Franks.Don't remember if the were right or left.
Best,
ND

Walleye Express
02-20-2003, 07:31 PM
Thanks for the heads up ND.
But Jeff Roffolo sent me a dozen and now Lindy Little Joe has shipped my other order of a dozen with the colors Jeff didn't cover. And being I haven't lost the 4 I've had for 3 years, I'm finally covered. But can now finally tell my fishing partners "BUY YOUR OWN" "THEY GOTTEM AT FRANK'S YOU KNOW" :-)

Political Correctness
02-20-2003, 11:28 PM
Don't you mean right finned or left finned? ;)