Blue Walleye

[Wall-i-Lama]

Caught this one, was a teal color above the lateral line. We've caught some in the past, but the color was not this vivid.

[kzoofisher]

I always enjoy catching those. I’ve heard a few theories about the blue phase, which is different from the now extinct blue walleye that lived in Erie. The one that seems most likely to me is that it is dependent on the ph of the water where they are spawned. Most of the ones I’ve caught have been in very tannic water.

[Wall-i-Lama]

Wikipedia stated:

"A turquoise-colored walleye exists in some waters of the Canadian Shield.[11] A mucosal pigment, named "sandercyanin", was hypothesized to be the source of the color,[12] but this has not been confirmed.[13] This fish was also thought to be a separate subspecies of walleye, but genetic testing showed there is no difference between the turquoise walleye and yellow walleye."

Referenced three very long articles!


I just think it's cool to catch this variation.

[Bobby Winds]

In Lake Erie before my time there were "Blue Pike" and "Yellow Pike". Some old timers still call walleye "Yellow Pike" and restaurants use to have Friday Fish Fry's with "Yellow Pike or Blue Pike". The "Blue Pike" was the preferred choice back in the day.

Now just a very select few have "Yellow Pike" fish fry's on Friday........most are now Haddock for about $12.99 in most local area taverns.

Here's one and take note of the PRICE....... ($26.99)

https://glenparktavern.com/wp-conten...ne-In-Menu.pdf

And yes, they are two different species as per NYS DEC.....

https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/94668.html

https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7037.html

[wmd]

We catch a blue walleye or two in Marchington Lake every year at Ghost River Lodge in Ontario. Some are more vivid than others, it is the only place I have caught a blue walleye.
wmd

[mjayn]

Catch them in many places. UP, Northern MN, Canada. Most have just the blue hue in the tail and backside like the OPs pictures. I have seen a few (2 or 3 total) come to the boat that were blue and have a white belly with no yellow at all. They still usually have some brown mixed with blue on the sides. but no gold and no yellow. those are real good looking fish.

[TrollMasterCalculator]

My family on my dad's side lived in Erie PA...they commercial fished the lake in the 1950's and 60's...if you guys have ever put in at the Walnut Creek marina you have launched right next to their old net houses. The fishery was Ralph Fisheries. Anyhow, I believe we have family pictures of "blue pike" that they would catch in the gill nets.



I guess those blue pike are different from these though. I thought I had read that they had found some strains of blue pike somewhere?


Trev

[PRO-V16]

We caught 2 back to back on a very small portage in lake in N. Central Mn. All the rest we ever caught were gold. Apparently somebody got a blue one and told the DNR. Between them and the University of Minnesota they shut down the lake for 3 years to study if was the extinct strain. They finally found records where the DNR in the 60's I believe were going to stock a few lakes up here with a blue strain from Colorado thinking they might survive better in select lakes. Turns out the aerator broke down on the truck on the way and they panicked and dumped them in nearby lakes before they died. You could drive into the lake until 1980.