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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Fishing Forum Blue walleyes |
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08/11/2018 09:10PM
Has anyone caught blue walleyes in the bwca? I have a buddy who has a cabin on white iron. We were in the bar one night, and a nice old timer told us about a lake just outside of the bwca with blue walleyes. The next morning we got bait from TGO and told him what we were up to. He even confirmed the lake did have blue walleyes and splake.
Anyway we did catch 6 "blue walleyes" but no splake. This was during winter, and they turned the bucket of snow blue we had them in.
I had pics of them on my phone, but dropped it in a lake last year duck hunting:(
Anyway we did catch 6 "blue walleyes" but no splake. This was during winter, and they turned the bucket of snow blue we had them in.
I had pics of them on my phone, but dropped it in a lake last year duck hunting:(
08/12/2018 09:19PM
Great pix, side by side the color difference is really apparent. If it's a genetic thing would green walleyes also be a different genetic strain?
Going into the deep woods is always an adventure, full of humor, drama and normally someone's blood, at least when you go with me!
08/12/2018 11:40PM
Not trying to stir up a controversy, but having never heard of such a thing I turned to google. Wikipedia claims blue walleye are not genetically different and also that they’ve been extinct since 1983?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_walleye
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_walleye
08/13/2018 05:00AM
While the Wikipedia article has a ton of citations, it's not always the most trusted source. And I find it odd that in an article that states it is considered extinct, it then includes a picture with this caption "blue color variant of the yellow walleye." Additionally, it's not like biologists have declared an animal to be extinct only to discover it is still alive. Whatever this species or subspecies is, it clearly exists. My question is whether or not they taste any different?
"While Jesus can make you wonderfully happy, he has no intention of making you normal." Erwin McManus
08/13/2018 07:24AM
thlipsis29: "While the Wikipedia article has a ton of citations, it's not always the most trusted source. And I find it odd that in an article that states it is considered extinct, it then includes a picture with this caption "blue color variant of the yellow walleye." Additionally, it's not like biologists have declared an animal to be extinct only to discover it is still alive. Whatever this species or subspecies is, it clearly exists. My question is whether or not they taste any different?"
I can't tell the difference in the taste.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
08/13/2018 07:34AM
I have caught them in Kawnipi, pickeral, and on Kabby. Could not tell a difference in taste.
Everything I have heard and read is they are not genetically different than regular walleye. Just a different color phase, just like you see with Lakers even within the same lake you can have different color phases.
Sometimes you catch walleyes with almost a yellow belly others are white, other times you catch walleyes that are so dark they almost look black then you can catch ones that are very light or even a green tinge to them, this is just another color phase.
Still cool to catch.
T
Everything I have heard and read is they are not genetically different than regular walleye. Just a different color phase, just like you see with Lakers even within the same lake you can have different color phases.
Sometimes you catch walleyes with almost a yellow belly others are white, other times you catch walleyes that are so dark they almost look black then you can catch ones that are very light or even a green tinge to them, this is just another color phase.
Still cool to catch.
T
08/13/2018 12:51PM
AmarilloJim: "Do a topic search here. Someone posted an article from the Wisc DNR or UW that explained it pretty well."
I found this, the website of a UW biologist with a special interest in studying "blue walleye."
According to him, "Blue walleye of Canada are genetically different than the extinct 'blue pike' of Lake Erie. They are albino for yellow color and have blue color in the mucous of their skin."
So the fish that the Wikipedia page refers to as extinct, could actually be extinct. He's saying the blue fish you're still catching today are NOT the same thing as the fish that have been labelled extinct.
In this article by that same biologist, he says all walleyes actually have that blue pigment, "sandercyanin" -- the difference in the blue ones is that they LACK the yellow pigment.
I dunno, it's all confusing. To me, they're just walleye with a different color phase, end of story. Cool catch for sure!
08/13/2018 03:50PM
arnesr: " A couple of blue walleyes caught this past June in Quetico. The color is most notable in the fins and tail.
"
Nice fish. That would be a really cool mount!
If you have the length and girth, I wonder if a taxidermist could do a good replica? Expand the picture and frame it under the mount.
08/13/2018 09:58PM
Zwater: "Has anyone caught blue walleyes in the bwca? I have a buddy who has a cabin on white iron. We were in the bar one night, and a nice old timer told us about a lake just outside of the bwca with blue walleyes. The next morning we got bait from TGO and told him what we were up to. He even confirmed the lake did have blue walleyes and splake.
Anyway we did catch 6 "blue walleyes" but no splake. This was during winter, and they turned the bucket of snow blue we had them in.
I had pics of them on my phone, but dropped it in a lake last year duck hunting:(
"
Not here but in WCPP.
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
08/13/2018 10:04PM
thegildedgopher: "AmarilloJim: "Do a topic search here. Someone posted an article from the Wisc DNR or UW that explained it pretty well."
I found this, the website of a UW biologist with a special interest in studying "blue walleye."
According to him, "Blue walleye of Canada are genetically different than the extinct 'blue pike' of Lake Erie. They are albino for yellow color and have blue color in the mucous of their skin."
So the fish that the Wikipedia page refers to as extinct, could actually be extinct. He's saying the blue fish you're still catching today are NOT the same thing as the fish that have been labelled extinct.
In this article by that same biologist, he says all walleyes actually have that blue pigment, "sandercyanin" -- the difference in the blue ones is that they LACK the yellow pigment.
I dunno, it's all confusing. To me, they're just walleye with a different color phase, end of story. Cool catch for sure! "
"Walleye" Wayne Schaefer is a dear, dear friend of mine. My best friend's dad in high school, who would take us up via float plane to "study" walleye in Ontario as teenagers. I was going to post this exact link and am so happy to see that someone else found his work. I'll have to pass on that his research is reaching this messageboard. He also formed a partnership with my old high school and got high school kids involved in research. Super cool guy. Best fisherman I have ever fished with, hands down.
08/14/2018 08:58AM
scotttimm: "Walleye" Wayne Schaefer is a dear, dear friend of mine. My best friend's dad in high school, who would take us up via float plane to "study" walleye in Ontario as teenagers. I was going to post this exact link and am so happy to see that someone else found his work. I'll have to pass on that his research is reaching this messageboard. He also formed a partnership with my old high school and got high school kids involved in research. Super cool guy. Best fisherman I have ever fished with, hands down."
That's cool! Small world :)
02/09/2022 01:08PM
Zwater: "Has anyone caught blue walleyes in the bwca? I have a buddy who has a cabin on white iron. We were in the bar one night, and a nice old timer told us about a lake just outside of the bwca with blue walleyes. The next morning we got bait from TGO and told him what we were up to. He even confirmed the lake did have blue walleyes and splake.
Anyway we did catch 6 "blue walleyes" but no splake. This was during winter, and they turned the bucket of snow blue we had them in.
I had pics of them on my phone, but dropped it in a lake last year duck hunting:(
"
Resurrection:
I was doing a search for blue walleye, and came across this thread.
Joe Robinet caught two Blue Walters in Wabakimi - linked to a few seconds before he reveals his catch:
Joe - Wild in Wabakimi - ep 4 - blue walleye
And I have to say - Blue Walters aside, that area of Wabakimi, where Joe caught his fish, is stunning.
"Now bring me that horizon"... - Captain Jack Sparrow
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