Just about any color jig will catch walleye however, darker colored jigs are the most popular with black, brown and purple being favorites. Three to four inch plastics are a good all around walleye size, but don't be afraid to try bigger or smaller baits. Twister or shad style plastics seem to work better for walleye than worm or creature style baits that are popular with bass anglers. Bucktail jigs are the old walleye standby, but plastic baits offer a wider range of colors and shapes. Basically, a jig is a hook with a weighted head that has either bucktail, marabou, or a plastic body attached to it.

Jigs are a popular lure for walleye, mainly because they work under a wide range of conditions. The hatchery is open to the public during this egg collection and offers a rare opportunity to see numerous walleye up close. Each spring walleye eggs are collected at the Oneida Fish Hatchery (Oswego County) on Oneida Lake.

Many of these walleye are stocked as fry, just a few days after hatching, and are only a few millimeters long. Any walleye 25 inches or larger is generally considered a 'trophy' pretty much anywhere in the state.Īround 188 million walleye are currently stocked in 35 waters across New York. However, most walleye are much smaller with fish in the 2-3 pound range being more common. The current state record is an impressive 18 lb. Walleye can be found in a variety of habitats in New York, from large lakes to small rivers. This layer also gives walleye their 'glassy-eyed' or 'wall-eyed' appearance. Walleye are aptly named because of their unique eyes that have a reflective layer of pigment called the tapetum lucidum, which allows them to see very well at night and during other low-light periods. Walleye are one of the more popular gamefish in New York, as they are exciting to catch and also good on the table.

Fishing planet new york walleye guide