Blue Walleye

[Rob Kempinski]

How common are Blue Walleye nowadays? I caught a 27 inch female in Quebec 9 years ago. I recently read in a book they are now considered extinct. Hope I didn't catch the last one.

Rob

[Hans]

It is generally accepted that the "Blue Pike" is (was?) a species of perch separate from the Walleye, just as a Sauger is not a Walleye, but a close cousin.

They are generally considered extinct due to overfishing, although there has been some talk of a recovery program, using DNA from old taxidermy mounts.

I found a story from an Ohio newspaper at:

http://www.goerie.com/fish/Blue_Pike_Stories/blue_pike_stories.html




Hans

[sib]

most information i have read also lists the blue pike(blue walleye) as exstinct. here is some info on the blue pike

http://www.nativefish.org/Articles/BluePike.html

http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/Communications/Publications/Fish/bluepike.html

"go outside and play"
sib

[Melonbob(ON)]

Now I know there will probably be some skeptical remarks regarding my posts, but the lake I have my camp on definately has blue walleye. That's not to say they are the actual blue pike making all the headlines, far be it for me to declare myself a scientist! But I can say that I average at least 1 walleye a season that is blue, and I don't mean a little blue either. I've never kept one, but the next one I do pull out of the water, I'll take a picture of so I can get everyones' opinion. I'm sure it's either a cross breed or some genetic mutation, but they are definately interesting fish!!! Tight lines everyone!!!

[yrnut]

I grew up on Lake Erie and in the late 40's we would night fish off what is now East Harbor State Park. The |"blue pike" were very plentiful, although I never remember them as being any longer than 12-16" long. I think too that the odnr is trying to reintroduce them back into lake Erie.

[Rob]

>a little blue either.
>I've never kept one, but
>the next one I do
>pull out of the water,
>I'll take a picture of
>so I can get everyones'
>opinion.

Well, I do have a picture of the one I caught. Is there somewhere to post a scanned shot?

Rob

[badger1]

webshots.com has community pages for that sort of thing.

[AquaMan]

If you do catch another one, you might (Emphisis on MIGHT) want to bring that to your local DNR for recording. There are several groups out there who have asked anyone that thinks they have caught a blue pike to bring it in for testing and/or cloning.

I am not sure if we should be playing with Moma Nature, but since it existed once, it might not be a bad thing. However, you might have a strian that has been identified and exists in Canada as a walleye species, not the blue pike of yesteryear.

Either way, there are several responsible groups that would like to see your fish if you can catch it again.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Phil T.]

The genetic fault that causes blue pigment is found in other members of the perch family as well. The NDG&F has a blue yellow perch swimming in their aquarium. Instead of green and yellow, it's two-tone blue.

[solarfisher00]

I beleive that true blue pike are exstinct. However there is a mutation of the walleye that has a blue pigmentation. These seem to be caught on occasion in the more northern range of walleyes(mostly canada). The blue pike is beleived to be a different species from the walleye instead of just a mutation of the walleye. Either way there are several reports of blue colored walleyes caught every year. Hopefully we can get someone from the DNR or MNR to clear up this issue. If anyone in here does catch a blue colored walleye I think the DNR still wants info about the fish. They want measurements like length and girth, a picture, and a couple of scales.

Solarfisher00

[BD]

The University of Wisconsin at Whitewater(?) has a study of blue walleye which is now in progress. I don't believe they are extinct but are vary rare due to a certain gene defect. When I find the URL I'll post it.

"An angler is a man who spends rainy days sitting around on the muddy banks of rivers doing nothing because his wife won't let him do it at home." --- Irish saying

[BD]

Follow-up to my last responce:
The blue pike (walleye) once fished commercially in the great lakes is extinct according to experts. Blue colored walleyes are still around. The blue pike had large eyes similar to the walleyes but it was a distinct species or subspecies. Blue colored walleyes are still being caught. Follow the URL's below for more info. I couldn't find the UW site I mentioned earlier.
Blue Pike < http://www.csuohio.edu/cestp/glegl/walleye.html >
Blue walleye pic < http://welcomelodge.com/fish.html >
Lodge offering blue walleye fishing < http://balbuzard.com/html/fishing.htm >
Lodge offering blue walleye fishing < http://tenmilelodge.com/

"An angler is a man who spends rainy days sitting around on the muddy banks of rivers doing nothing because his wife won't let him do it at home." --- Irish saying

[BD]

From WC archive thread #3546:

"RE: Blue Walleye"
Posted by Nathan on Nov-16-00 at 00:33 AM

Thank you to those of you who replied with usefull information. It has been a help,
but we would still like more information on Blue Walleye. We would like to have any
pictures or information on where Blue Walleye were found and when. I am working
with a research group at the University of Wisconsin-Washington County. There is a
new web page that we are creating specifically for Blue Walleye. It is under
construction but we would appreciate it if you would check it out at
www.washington.uwc.edu/walleye.
Thank you.

P.S.
The $500 reward is for a differant kind of blue walleye originaly from Lake Erie, a
kind of walleye that is thought to be extinct. We are not offering any reward but
information would greatly help our research.