Good Question: Why Do We Love The Walleye?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- In the land of 10,000 lakes, there are all kinds of fish we could catch, but Minnesotans seem to have a particular affinity for one. So, why do we love the walleye? Good Question.
"Walleye is Minnesota," said one angler Monday afternoon along the Mississippi River. "Walleye is a great tasting fish."
There's a mystique to the fish that even fisherman have a hard time explaining.
"When they're biting, anybody can catch them, but that doesn't happen all the time," said Don Pereia, fisheries chief at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "They can be a challenging fish to catch and they can be finicky."
Minnesota's geography also makes it a unique place for walleye to live. If you were looking for the perfect lake for walleye, you'd find ten large ones across the state – Red, Leech, Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, to name a few.
"If you were going to design a lake to produce a lot of walleye, it would be relatively shallow and windswept, moderate fertility, plenty of spawning habitat with high energy shoreline," said Pereia.
Minnesota began stocking lakes with walleye in the 1880s, which is before the DNR existed. Walleyes are easy to stock and cultivate artificially, which makes them even more popular.
And, finally – the taste.
"They're definitely my favorite," said one angler. "A beer batter is great, you can bake them, they're just an awesome fish."