When it comes to catching walleye, there’s lots of speculation on what these fish can and cannot see.
Obviously, as a keen fisher, you’ll want to learn about their vision because it’ll change the type of bait you use to try and catch them. So knowing what color is most visible to a walleye fish will help improve your chances of catching one of these tasty critters.
The main issue with this is that there can be a lot of hearsay and myths when it actually comes to these fish.
Throughout this article, we will explore all things walleye including what colors they see, facts vs myths, what colors they see at night, what bait is the best to use and so much more.
So what are we waiting for, let’s jump straight in!
What Colors Do Walleye See Best?
This fish’s vision is based on the structure of light-sensitive cones and they can see some of the colors that we can.
It is suggested that the colors that these fish can see best are reds and oranges. They can also see yellows and greens but these are not as prominent.
Blues, blacks, and violets are less visible to this type of fish, so as a fisherman you’ll want to avoid using these colors for bait as it is unlikely you’ll attract a walleye.
Walleye Vision – Fact Vs Myth
If you are up to date with walleye research then you have probably heard on several occasions that walleyes see colors in the ultraviolet spectrum.
Anglers have been told for many years that they should wear specific colored clothing and use UV light to lure in the fish.
Unfortunately, there isn’t actually any scientific evidence to prove that this is effective. Many studies have been done and there has never been a clear result to prove that the fish actually see this color range.
What’s The Best Bait To Catch Walleye
There are many options that you can pick for walleye bait but the favorite by far is Minnow. People often say that Shiners are a great choice too.
The main thing that you need to take into consideration is that you will find this particular type of fish in dark, dirty, and murky water, so you’ll need to use heavier baits if you want any success in getting a bite.
Night Vision
Fishing in the daytime and nighttime is exactly the same right? Wrong.
If you are trying to catch a walleye at night, you’re going to need to change your whole fishing strategy as a walleye’s sight changes in the dark.
Remember that the water is incredibly dark and dingy so you’re going to need a bait that’s going to be visible and stand out.
Bait that is white, black, or chartreuse will be your best bet.
Bait that will glow in the dark will also really help you to lure those fish to come to you as you’ll stand out in the darkness.
What’s more, it’s not only the fish that will have vision troubles in the dark. Creating light within the water with glowing bait will also make it easier for you to be able to see the fish.
What Colors Can Walleye Not See
Like a lot of fish, walleyes have more trouble with greens and blues as opposed to colors like reds and oranges.
This is because much of their environment (the water) blends in with these colors and that can make it difficult to differentiate.
While they do have the ability to see these colors, they struggle in their surroundings. They can only really see blues and greens if they severely contrast with their body of water, which is not often.
Are Walleyes More Active At Night
If you go fishing, you’ll tend to find that you’re more likely to catch a walleye in the evening hours than you are in the early mornings.
These fish tend to be more active in the evening due to the fact they rely on their visual senses to be able to attract prey and thus feed.
So if you are hoping to catch a walleye you’ll probably be best fishing later on in the day as the fish will be out and about already looking for food, so your bait will peak more interest.
Do Walleyes Like Glow In The Dark Lures
Lots of saltwater anglers believe that glow-in-the-dark baits are a great choice because it mimics the natural bioluminescence that predators will pursue eagerly.
These lures will also attract many other fish such as trout, crappie, bass, catfish, and shrimp.
How To Attract Walleye
If you want to effectively attract a walleye here are a few tips that might help you out:
- Use white bread as bait
- Use a bottom-bouncing rig and a slip sinker to draw the attention of the fish
- Use bait such as Minnows, Suckers, Worms, Leeches, Nightcrawlers, and Jigs.
Final Thoughts
It is true that walleye fish can see more than many other kinds of its species.
However, some of the common tales told about walleye fish are just myths. So you need to keep this in mind when you do go fishing.
Walleyes mainly tend to feed in the evening so you’ll want to fish once it is darker. Using bright colors will attract the fish best, and you’ll want to avoid greens and blues that blend in with the murky water they tend to inhabit.
For a successful fishing trip, where you reel in walleyes galore, you may want to opt for a light-up lure that will attract and lure in the desired fish in the dark.
And remember while color is important it is not the only factor. So you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got the correct bait to entice the Walleye.
Hopefully, now you’re all set to capture your very first walleye!
