Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Walleye Sander vitreus

Family
Percidae (Perches)
Tolerance
Intermediate
Trophic Class
Top Carnivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 101 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 76 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 176 distinct sites, or 12.2% of the 1441 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 38th most commonly collected species.

The Walleye was collected in 135 bioassessment sampling sessions and 287 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 5,834 individual Walleye specimens, ranking it the #40 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

Large, whitish glossy eyes and strong canine teeth. A brassy olive-buff color, sometimes shadowing to yellowish sides and white beneath. The caudal fin has a silver or milk-white tip on the lower lobe. There are no distinct dark bars or mottlings on the sides of the body, but instead an overall mottling of brown or black. Spots on the anterior dorsal fin are lacking, but there is one large dark spot or blotch near the base on the last 2 to 3 spines of the posterior dorsal fin. There are 19 to 22 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 12 to 14 in the anal fin. The lateral line has 80 to 89 scales. The cheeks are sparsely scaled.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found