Reproduction

Walleye spawn in late April and May as soon as the ice breaks apart. Walleye will migrate from deeper water to rivers and streams to reproduce. Spawning usually happens at night due to the sensitivity of their eyes. The male and female walleye swim above the gravel bottom and release their eggs and sperm. The eggs of the female will then stick to the gravel and await fertilization The female may release all her eggs in one night or release them over multiple nights. One female can release up to 200-300 eggs at one time. Several males will fertilize these eggs. Unlike the females, the males will usually spawn over several nights.

Once the eggs are fertilized, the parents take no part in rising their young. The fertilized eggs will hatch in about 1-3 weeks. After the younglings hatch, they will swim to deeper water to mature and repeat the process just as their parents did before them. Read more about the interactions that take place between the walleye and other organisms.