Northwest Fishing Reports

Just gotta ask. Anyone heard of blue walleye? (Transplants). I don't think they were native to WA, but maybe. They supposedly went extinct many years ago. But......I have heard rumors, AND actually ate fillets of blue walleye (again, supposedly) from a friend in '99. The fish were from extremely isolated lakes in MN and Ontario. Science says they don't exist anymore, but I have word otherwise.....

Anybody have any knowledge/experience on this?

:thumright I have heard of Blue B:-# and Blue cheese but that was way before 99 coming up8-[

I haven't seen any "Blue" walleye before, but here's the official word from the Canadian feds...

Blue Pike

Features: The Blue Pike (Sander vitreus glaucus) was an important commercial and sporting fish species in the lower Great Lakes. It was also called Blue Walleye to distinguish it from the more common Walleye (Sander vitreus vitreus). It was a slate-blue colour, and grew to about one kilogram in weight.

Although the Blue Pike was officially declared extinct by the US Fish & Wildlife Service in 1976, sightings of individuals thought to be Blue Pike are reported every now and then by anglers. However, it is likely that these individuals are not the Blue Pike, which was distinguished from the Walleye by having eyes that were larger and closer together, and bluish lower fins (vs. yellowish lower fins). The Blue Pike lived in deeper water, and spawned at different times and places than the Walleye, but hybrids were occasionally encountered.

Status: Extinct

Range: The Blue Pike lived in Lakes Ontario and Erie, and the upper Niagara River. The last confirmed specimen of Blue Pike was taken from Lake Erie in 1965.

Threats: The Blue Pike was common in Lake Erie until the 1950s when the population declined dramatically as a result of overfishing. Pollution and the subsequent eutrophication of Lake Erie may have contributed to the final disappearance of the Blue Pike. It is also hypothesized that predation on the young by invasive Rainbow Smelt may have contributed to declines.

Protection: The species has the general protection given by habitat sections of the federal Fisheries Act.

Ive did some research years ago on them, any I have read the above statement. Came to my own conclusion, since I'm a world renowned bucket biologist...Walleye really take on the color of the water they are in, and occasionally there are ones with pigment issues (blue). The ones in lake Winnipeg are Emerald Green, some in Ontario are black, but there are no longer blue Walleyes... :brilsmurf

Hal wrote:Ive did some research years ago on them, any I have read the above statement. Came to my own conclusion, since I'm a world renowned bucket biologist...Walleye really take on the color of the water they are in, and occasionally there are ones with pigment issues (blue). The ones in lake Winnipeg are Emerald Green, some in Ontario are black, but there are no longer blue Walleyes... :brilsmurf

I trust you Hal...anybody that catches north end Lake Bemidji walleyes is ok in my book...(by the state park.... )

BUT... I don't think the LAST one was taken from Lake Erie in 1965. Not trying to get technical, but is it possible that in ALL of LAKE ERIE, there was ONE left, and some guy caught it. ?? Although, the statement does say that the US F&W declared it extinct in 1976, so there is some room for error. Yes, they may be extinct, I just think that POSSIBLY, somewhere, there could be some. Would be a great discovery I guess....

Yeah, I hear you about the color difference. You're right, greens, yellows, blacks, blues.....