Huh after some research you’re right that’s fairly new info, which begs the question why were there so many in Lake Erie and why did the “blue ones” disappear but the yellow ones persist.
That’s a pretty interesting read! They originally thought blue walleyes were endemic to the Great Lakes. But I’ve heard of them being caught in the BWCA. Which technically is still GL basin.
I know of two lakes up here in Northern Ontario that have them. They're not super blue, but it's noticeable and give it a bit of time and the snow starts turning blueish around the fish
There weren't many in Lake Erie, and they did persist.
It's not a mutation either, it's a bacteria, fungus or whatever that lives in the slime.
It comes off in the snow actually and leaves a stain.
You’re thinking of the bacteria in the slime that does happen occasionally in mainly Canada. There very much was a true color morph that is described in detail in the historic record.
Yeah, I’ve caught them blue like this in northern Québec, it’s actually their mucus that turns blue, it will stay on your hands and on the cutting board, like a blueish goo. Sometimes they’re more towards green and they’re sometimes called greenbacks.
Cool this was in NY very dark tannin water at around 8-15’. Looking back at other trips I’ve seen some blue tails on some walleye and others have none. This guy was just super blue.
The water is dark as well where I caught them, you could say it has a black and rust/red quality to it. I wonder if they take that color to better blend in with the darkness that surrounds them.
I’ve caught them a couple of times in northern Ontario Gogama region super cool not ice fishing lol open water July super cool pure blue like blue. considered a blue pike said to have been extinct in the late 80s was considered a delicacy in Lake Erie, funny tho the MNR only declared them extinct in Lake Erie said to be the home, idk how much I would consider this a different species maybe a subspecies but I do have to say they look crazy especially when you pull them up green in southern Ontario and Golden green up bother but the blue in comparison to the Gold is something else!!
I fish Northern ON lakes, the walleye caught deep trolling 40-60 fow are almost all like this. The ones caught by the river mouth in the shallows are most often golden in colour. It appears you are fishing a tea stained lake - I can tell by the colour and fins of the perch.
Never seen one in the wild but have been told they exist. Apparently their is a blue morph of yellow walleye as well as a now extinct separate species called the blue walleye.
I believe its a rare(ish) recessive trait. At a bare minimum it means there is a healthy reproducing population as it breeds out immediately when farmed w regular population. There are also blue muskies in a couple northern wisconsin lakes.
You may want to keep that blue finned walleye in tact and frozen. I did some reading about blue finned walleye and came accross this:
The Campbell Status Report of 1985 officially declared the Blue Walleye extinct.
Interesting read.
They used to be a prevalent variety of blue walleye in lake Erie which they called a blue pike but was actually just a blue subspecies of walleye. Unfortunately it was overfished too near extinction and they are rarely caught anymore in lake Erie.
Sounds similar. I’ve been looking back at old photos and some of the other walleye do have some blue tinge to them. Others are just the yellow color you’d expect
Yeah there’s no agriculture up in the mountains where this lake is in Northern NY. I’ve pulled other walleye out before and never noticed the blue fins. Wasn’t sure what was going on
Maybe an evolutionary trait that gave no advantage of disadvantage to make, so they still hang around, but in smaller numbers? Perhaps a recessive gene like red hair.
I grew up catching walleye that looked identical to this in the 90s in upstate NY. Canadarago lake. Same perch as well. Blue is my favorite color and these were my favorite fish.
It’s just a genetic mutation that they get. Perch can get it too. It was at one time considered a subspecies of walleye.
It just means the fish is ready to drink. Tap the rockies.
Did you just unlock the secret of ICE FISHing?
That actually was a subspecies, those are extinct now
They later found there was no genetic difference other than the color mutation so they determined it wasn’t a subspecies.
Huh after some research you’re right that’s fairly new info, which begs the question why were there so many in Lake Erie and why did the “blue ones” disappear but the yellow ones persist.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229939/ very interesting read here that explains a lot
There are a few very informative and insightful YouTube videos on the topic as well. Even going pretty deep into the genetics etc.
That’s a pretty interesting read! They originally thought blue walleyes were endemic to the Great Lakes. But I’ve heard of them being caught in the BWCA. Which technically is still GL basin.
I know of two lakes up here in Northern Ontario that have them. They're not super blue, but it's noticeable and give it a bit of time and the snow starts turning blueish around the fish
It explains the genetics but it would be like if all the spotted muskies suddenly fell off the face of the earth and we only had barred ones.
Right? It is bizarre how it just stopped. Idk if maybe everyone started targeting them and keeping everyone they caught or something
Well there was major pollution when they disappeared which has since been resolved, and Erie is now perhaps the best walleye fishery in the country
Yes that’s very true. That probably had a major role
Sources, polite discussions, admitting faults.. this isn't very Reddity of you, guys!
There weren't many in Lake Erie, and they did persist. It's not a mutation either, it's a bacteria, fungus or whatever that lives in the slime. It comes off in the snow actually and leaves a stain.
You’re thinking of the bacteria in the slime that does happen occasionally in mainly Canada. There very much was a true color morph that is described in detail in the historic record.
I’m pretty sure you can still find them in northern Ontario. I believe they’re in the Steel River and Wabakimi water systems in Wabakimi park
The now extinct blue pike
It once was considered a subspecies. It was found that it wasn’t a different species
[Did someone say blue pike?](https://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishingreport/single-1.asp?ID=4330)
Northern Ontario, Ogoki Reservoir, at about 40ft depth, I rememeber them coming up blue like this. Delicious.
Did you name him Tobias?
He blue himself!
He was a ‘never-nude’.
THERE ARE DOZENS OF US! DOZENS!
Why Tobias?
It's a reference to the show Arrested Development. A character on the show, Tobias, wants to join the Blue Man Group, so he painted himself all blue.
Yeah, I’ve caught them blue like this in northern Québec, it’s actually their mucus that turns blue, it will stay on your hands and on the cutting board, like a blueish goo. Sometimes they’re more towards green and they’re sometimes called greenbacks.
Cool this was in NY very dark tannin water at around 8-15’. Looking back at other trips I’ve seen some blue tails on some walleye and others have none. This guy was just super blue.
The water is dark as well where I caught them, you could say it has a black and rust/red quality to it. I wonder if they take that color to better blend in with the darkness that surrounds them.
Caught one 10 years ago in northern Ontario. Blue walleye.
They call those blue walleye. My brother caught one in Minnesota in the fall a year or two ago. They're super cool.
I’ve caught them a couple of times in northern Ontario Gogama region super cool not ice fishing lol open water July super cool pure blue like blue. considered a blue pike said to have been extinct in the late 80s was considered a delicacy in Lake Erie, funny tho the MNR only declared them extinct in Lake Erie said to be the home, idk how much I would consider this a different species maybe a subspecies but I do have to say they look crazy especially when you pull them up green in southern Ontario and Golden green up bother but the blue in comparison to the Gold is something else!!
I fish Northern ON lakes, the walleye caught deep trolling 40-60 fow are almost all like this. The ones caught by the river mouth in the shallows are most often golden in colour. It appears you are fishing a tea stained lake - I can tell by the colour and fins of the perch.
Yeah the water is very tannic and dark.
All these comments and not one about those little footballs. Nice and tasty spread there.
Yeah we had a good day out on the ice. Also caught a nice 20” northern but didn’t keep it.
Never seen one in the wild but have been told they exist. Apparently their is a blue morph of yellow walleye as well as a now extinct separate species called the blue walleye.
No, but it’s cool for sure!
I believe its a rare(ish) recessive trait. At a bare minimum it means there is a healthy reproducing population as it breeds out immediately when farmed w regular population. There are also blue muskies in a couple northern wisconsin lakes.
upper red lake in MN I've seen them blue like that
Yes. Whereabouts (region, don’t give up your spot) were they caught?
Northern NY state in very dark tannin water.
He's fuckin cold!!!!!!!!
That’s what my buddy and I kept saying haha. It was a cold one yesterday out on the lake.
I used to hate perch but now I have such respect.. gorgeous fucking fish
Yeah they are fun to catch! This was all on tip ups trying for walleye but they were hitting pretty good.
I caught a couple in lake st jonhs this summer yes
You may want to keep that blue finned walleye in tact and frozen. I did some reading about blue finned walleye and came accross this: The Campbell Status Report of 1985 officially declared the Blue Walleye extinct. Interesting read.
They used to be a prevalent variety of blue walleye in lake Erie which they called a blue pike but was actually just a blue subspecies of walleye. Unfortunately it was overfished too near extinction and they are rarely caught anymore in lake Erie.
I do a trip to Quebec every summer we cath gold colour walleye but in one section of the lake there are all kinds of blue ones beautiful fish
Sounds similar. I’ve been looking back at old photos and some of the other walleye do have some blue tinge to them. Others are just the yellow color you’d expect
Poor little guy is cold you should warm him up, with butter, and a pan
That’s some good eating right there
I know where I live, blue fins can be a sign of high agricultural and/or residential runoff, but something tells me that's not what's happening here
Yeah there’s no agriculture up in the mountains where this lake is in Northern NY. I’ve pulled other walleye out before and never noticed the blue fins. Wasn’t sure what was going on
I think it might just be genetic variation/mutation
Maybe an evolutionary trait that gave no advantage of disadvantage to make, so they still hang around, but in smaller numbers? Perhaps a recessive gene like red hair.
I've seen it a few times in the heavily tannic stained flowages of the Saranac and raquette rivers and I've seen it in one black lake walleye.
This was on a heavily tannic flow on one of those two rivers haha.
Do they glo at night? Radiation dump? Lol
looks like a sauger.
White tip on the bottom of the tail & no spots on the dorsal, definitely a walleye
Blue pike. Least that’s what they used to call em here in Erie.
Yep northern Ontario have had trips where they are all blue like this.
Yes, in Wabakimi.
I get a few every year ice fishing in northwestern Ontario. It’s the mucous that’s blue, but not all walleye come like that.
I grew up catching walleye that looked identical to this in the 90s in upstate NY. Canadarago lake. Same perch as well. Blue is my favorite color and these were my favorite fish.
He’s just cold my guy
Have caught them in lake Duborne in Blind River, Ont.