Walleye

About Walleye

Walleye are one of Utah's most popular predatory gamefish, instantly recognizable by their large, glassy, reflective eyes, the same adaptation that lets them feed effectively in low light and murky water. You could reasonably call a Walleye a larger, more predatory cousin of the Yellow Perch. The two are closely related and share a similar body shape, though Walleye grow far bigger and hunt far more aggressively. Average Utah Walleye run 1 to 3 pounds, with some fish growing well into double digits.

History & Introduction in Utah

Walleye aren't native to Utah, and their introduction history is tightly tied to Utah Lake. The first Walleye fry were stocked there in 1952, with additional plantings in 1954, 1955, and 1956 bringing the total to more than two million fry introduced in just a few years. By the late 1950s, biologists had launched formal studies into how the species was adapting. They tracked growth, reproduction, and feeding habits as Walleye established themselves in the lake's turbid water.

From there, Walleye spread to mid-elevation reservoirs across the state, with Starvation Reservoir and Yuba Reservoir becoming two of the most heavily studied Walleye fisheries in Utah. Starting in the 1990s. Both waters illustrate a recurring theme in Utah's Walleye management. Walleye are such effective predators that they can deplete their own forage fish base faster than it can recover, leading to "boom and bust" population cycles. At Starvation specifically, biologists spent years in the early 2000s actively removing tens of thousands of Walleye through selective gill netting just to give forage fish populations room to rebound.

More recently, Willard Bay has become the center of an unusual and fascinating Walleye management program. DWR biologists now take Walleye eggs from Willard Bay each year, sterilize them, and stock the resulting fish into other reservoirs like Red Fleet, a first-of-its-kind effort to give other waters a trophy Walleye fishery without the population and forage problems that come with unchecked natural reproduction.

   

State & Fishery Records

Utah's Walleye record has moved around more than almost any other species in the state's record book:

• The long-standing catch-and-keep record, 15 pounds 9 ounces, was caught at the Provo River by Jeffery Tanner in 1991.
• In 2021 alone, the catch-and-release record changed hands twice — first a 32-inch fish caught by Colby Woodruff at the Bear River, then broken by William Wright at Solitaire Lake.
• In 2022, Utah Lake produced a new catch-and-release record when Jon Torrence landed a trophy fish, only to have it broken again later that same year.
• In 2024, Steven Gottfredson set a new catch-and-release record at Deer Creek Reservoir with a 29-inch, 13-pound 8-ounce Walleye.

Where to Find Them

• Utah Lake — the species' original Utah stronghold
• Starvation Reservoir
• Yuba Reservoir
• Willard Bay Reservoir
• Deer Creek Reservoir
• Bear River
• Provo River
• Red Fleet Reservoir

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How to Fish

General

Understanding where and how to catch Walleye starts with understanding their spawning and migration cycles. 

From Ice out to 40 degrees, Walleye will stage at the mouth of rivers, creeks and rocky areas until the water temp increases to 41-42 degrees. Fish are not agresive and will feed during narrow windows in the morning and evening. Use simple jigs tipped with bate. 

Walleye spawn in water temperatures of 45-50 degrees. Fish spawn up river in rocky areas in 3-5 feet of water from sundown until about midnight. Females spawn in 1 to 3 days and then move out into deep water looking for food. Males will stay around for 2 to 3 weeks before doing the same thing.

Post spawn, 90% of the challenge of fishing  Walleye in simply finding them. In general, Walleye like structure so target weed beds, points, rock piles and submerged trees and objects. 

Trolling 

Deep-diving and lipless crankbaits, Rapalas and Rattletraps are proven producers. They work well when Walleye are actively feeding, especially fished near the bottom. Spread your lines out to cover more water using inline planer boards. Keep speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph.

Bottom bouncers paired with worm harnesses are another reliable trolling setup, particularly around submerged structure like humps, drop-offs, and submerged islands. A good electric trolling motor and speed control is essential here. Your speed should be 0.5 - 1 mph so keep your hooks sharp and be ready to set react to the bite. If you are marking fish but not getting hit, switch up the size, shape and color of your spinner rigs. 

Bait & Shore Fishing

Nightcrawlers and leeches fished slowly near bottom structure are a classic, simple approach, and work well from shore. Walleye push into rocky shorelines during the spring spawn, making them genuinely catchable from the bank during this window, creating a good option for anglers without a boat.

Ice Fishing

Jigging spoons and regular jigheads tipped with bait, fished near bottom, are the standard winter approach. Early morning and late evening tend to be the most productive windows.

Fishing Regulations

Walleye limits vary significantly by water, and some reservoirs enforce spawning-season closures or slot limits to protect the population during critical periods. Always check the current Utah Fishing Guidebook before you go.

Planning a Walleye Trip

Because so many of Utah's best Walleye waters also hold Wiper, Smallmouth Bass, or Yellow Perch, a Walleye trip is easy to turn into a mixed-bag outing. Spring, around the spawn, and the low-light hours of early morning and dusk tend to be the most consistent windows no matter which water you choose.

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