How to ID Male vs Female Walleyes?

[teamlund]

Originally Posted by JETSTER

Must be in your opinion all small walleyes 17" and under are males then!!!

If not how could ya tell the difference??????

its farly easy to tell in the spring. I have only accidently cleaned one walleye that had eggs in it. Usually I dont keep mamy fish after the run so I dont have to worry much.

I am sure that have have cleaned post spawn females but I am not going to put the knife to a 22" fish that I KNOW is a female. I just my way to definalty lower the chance of killing females....I also believe that the smaller fish are better tasting.

[frogmaster]

OK here is another consideration since can not tell the sex and the number of males out number the females.

1. Glad to see so many concerned about Female release too.

2. OK if you are not aware of "Bio-magnification" please do a quick online search to get the concept. This is just another healthy reason IMHO to release the bigger fish

Thanks to all whom contributed

[Mike Kansas]

Males normally have a Remote Control or a Heinken with them while the females have a Credit Card and a new pair of Shoes.

[LmitingOut]

Originally Posted by Mike Kansas

Males normally have a Remote Control or a Heinken with them while the females have a Credfit Card and a new pair of Shoes.

the females start *****ing and complaining after you net them

[walleyefreak]

You guys do realize that at some point Juls may take offense to some of these replies...

Then again she is a really good sport, so she just may be ROFL....

[wicked1]

This should get intresting....

[MorganMan]

Lolololol.....good one

[walleyejgr]

It was good information to read,thanks for posting that. My rule, no walleye caught during prespawn or spawn will be kept,unless it is a bad hook set that will possibly cripple or kill the fish. Today was a perfect example a beautiful 3 1/2 lb female was set back in the river after a quick photo.To have a picture of the look on this dudes face when I let her go PRICELESS.

[Bill Krejca]

Originally Posted by Mark Komo

Good info.

I am a firm believer in releasing bigger fish as they have those special genetics that make them big. Not many fish have the makeup to reach something like 14 lbs. Sure the amount of eggs may decrease, and the amount of fertile eggs may even been fewer. I like to think if a big fish does have eggs, those fish have a chance to reach that size. Now, I realize there's a lot of things that can derail this, but its a good thought to have anyway.

Yeah, that's the way I see it, too.

Bill

[JinxCanada]

I have to say that every year on the Detroit River I get frustrated (as do my friends) when we watch the (sorry guys but this is true) American guys keeping every fish they catch no matter what. They don't care if it's a spawning female, male, huge, small whatever. I have YET in my years to see an American boat throw back a Walleye of any kind...however, I do see it often with the Canadians.

Now, I'm not trying to bash anyone, I'm just stating what I've seen year after year. When you see me post a picture of a 9-12 lbs female in early spring you can rest assured it went back in the water just after that picture. I sure wish everyone else would do this. I want to be able to catch walleye with my children in the years to come...