Have you ever looked a Canadian Walleye (or any walleye) in the eye? If so, you have seen the whitish "wall" that lines the back of the eyes.
The "wall" shines back at you like a mirror and has the function of reflecting available light entering the eye.
Does that give the walleye better vision? Does the unique eye structure (for fish) give this fish "night vision"? Fish biologists disagree as to the extent of any vision advantage Walleyes have.
The fact is--they really just don't know for sure.
Do these "eyes" make any difference in how you fish for this prized species? If it's true they can see better, that would not only give them a predatory advantage.
It could also make a difference in where you look for them and what color and type walleye lures you might choose, right? Animal eyes are a mystery.
The animal kingdom displays an amazing array of eye types, sizes, shapes, and structures.
For example, why do some snakes have round eyes and vipers have vertical eyes? The different shapes probably allow one species to do (see) something differently, but what? -- how? -- why? We may think we know the answers, but we can only think like humans.
We humans have a habit of applying human traits to animals, but in reality it may only be a guess.
So, what's the bottom line on walleye vision? A safe statement is that this prized fish's eye structure will probably enable them to see prey better in low light conditions.
Let's go from there.
Our fishing group has been concentrating on learning about and fishing for walleye in Ontario and other places since about 1955.
When we look for walleye, we look on the bottom where it is pretty dark.
The actual depth may vary depending on the season, water temperature, etc.
In our experience, the walleye (as a general habit) prefer to "hangout" on structure in deeper, darker water.
However, at any given time, we have caught many a nice walleye in shallow water (6ft-10ft) when they come up to munch on perch, minnows, or other baitfish.
So, we conclude that "light sensitivity" of the eye is not the only reason walleye are commonly found in deeper water (15ft-30ft).
It could be that, when not feeding, walleye are just "lazy" and swim in the cool, quiet water near the bottom waiting for their next meal.
More likely, we think the walleye body coloring and eye position may be just as important of an influence as to why they prefer to hover near the bottom of a given structure.
They simply blend in better in the deeper darker water.
But, the issues of coloring and eye position are the subjects of a separate discussion.
We will cover them another time.
Bottom line, walleyes have unique eyes that favor them in low light conditions.
Their eye structure and their aggressive feeding nature is what make this fish one of the most successful predators in the gamefish world.
They can use a combination of their enhanced eyesight (probable) and natural camouflage to ambush prey.
Their preference for a deeper, darker habitat is one of the reasons fishermen frequently describe walleyes as "elusive".
It makes the hunt for this prized fish all the more intriguing and keeps us going back for more.
Successful fishermen must keep baits and lures at a certain depth to catch these fish.
That is a bigger challenge than surface fishing or casting for other species.
If you want to get walleye attention when they are lurking near the dark bottom, you might want to use a bait/lure that can produce a little "flash" -- give them something to look at.
It could remind them of a struggling minnow flashing the shiny scales on its side as it darts near bigger fish.
Our fishing group uses a proven Moby Dick trolling rig with various spinner colors and finishes to get their attention.
In shallower water, there is more sun penetrating the water, so color, rather than "flash", may be the variable to consider.
Try darker colors, light green, red, white, or even black.
Since there is more available light, natural colors and shapes should do well.
Knowing the habits and habitat of any fish is important for fishermen and walleye fishermen know this all too well.
When you are hunting for them, you are indeed hunting a special fish that has some special characteristics.
The walleye's unique eyes must be considered if you want to be successful in finding them and getting them in your boat.
One thing for sure (well, almost), if it is bright and sunny outside, fish deep and use some flash.