Where Does Walleye Live?

Walleye lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Walleye

Water type

freshwater

Depth

Typically found in depths ranging from 2 to 15 meters (6 to 50 feet), but can be found deeper in large lakes. Prefers cooler, deeper waters during warmer months.

Environment

Large, cool, and relatively clear lakes and rivers with gravel, rock, or sand bottoms. They prefer areas with structural complexity such as submerged logs, rock piles, and weed lines, which provide ambush points and cover. Tolerant of some turbidity.

Geographic range

Native to Canada and the northern United States, extending from the Great Lakes basin west to the Northwest Territories and British Columbia, and south through the Mississippi River basin to Alabama and Arkansas. Widely introduced outside its native range.

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