How fast are Walleye?

[Vollmer]

I was having a discussion with a buddy who could not believe that pulling cranks at 2.5+ mph was feasable. He said that the bait is moving so fast that a walleye would have to work too hard to catch it. He would rather finesse fish. To each their own. I replied that a fish can probably swim faster than we can run, and if I seen a juicy steak stroll by at 2.5 mph I would snatch it up and devour it.

This discussion made me wonder how fast are walleye at top speed ? Pike ? Perch ? Etc ...

 

[riverfisher]

this is what i found

Swimming performance of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) from a wild population was measured relative to fork length (0.18-0.67 m) and water temperature (5.8-20.5°C), to provide models for setting water velocities in fishways and culverts. Ucrit[SUB]60[/SUB] (the highest speed maintainable for 60 min) values ranged from 0.30 to 0.73 m/s and increased significantly with length and temperature. Ucrit[SUB]10[/SUB] (the highest speed maintainable for 10 min) values ranged from 0.43 to 1.14 m/s and also increased significantly with fish length and water temperature. When startled, walleye were able to attain higher speeds (1.60-2.60 m/s) during short (temperature-independent) bursts of swimming activity. The relatively low Ucrit[SUB]60[/SUB] values suggest that walleye possess a narrow scope for aerobic activity compared with other species, which may account for their poor performance in fishways. However, the small differences between Ucrit[SUB]60[/SUB] and Ucrit[SUB]10[/SUB]values and the large differences between Ucrit[SUB]10[/SUB] and fast-start performance suggest that low passage efficiency may be caused by a behavioural disinclination to switch from low to high intensity activity.

​so in English for a long distance they can got .5mph to 1.5mph and short burst 3.5mph to 6mph

 

[MSA]

well, fast fish like tuna, mako sharks, sailfish, and mackerel can go 25 to 30 MPH, (some sources say 60, but that just doesn't add up) so I have no problem believing a walleye or a pike can hit 5 to 10. I know some guys troll at over 5 mph for musky, and 2.5 to 3.5 is common for walleye trolling.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Depending how active walleye are, I have trolled up to the point where Im starting to make a bit of a wake and having problems keeping cranks down. Post spawn you can really hammer those aggressive males like this.

 

[Bacon]

I usually don't pull much over 2 mph. Might have to try pulling faster more often. Have tried a couple times going fast and not much luck. That 1.8-2.2 seems to work best for me.

 

[Enslow]

Fish can swim really fast due their tails and fins and fish bodies.

 

[Sub_Elect]

You can see its a walleye swimming fast because of how it is!

 

[martinslanding]

most of the ones I have seen usually average 78-81 mph along I-94 ...

 

[Enslow]

Walleyes also have a dorsal fin which has very sharp tips.

 

[KJND]

I have caught walleye trolling jointed shad-raps at 3.8-4.0 mph... this early summer already.Also, caught some dandy bluegills at the same speeds.

Now is it an ideal trolling speed, no more times than yes, but in the absence of a trolling motor you make due with what you have.

 

[squirrel92]

I have caught walleye trolling jointed shad-raps at 3.8-4.0 mph... this early summer already.Also, caught some dandy bluegills at the same speeds.

You had big gills hit the JSR's? That's impressive! 5's?

 

[Enslow]

Walleyes have teeth and predator brains... That being said, lets long line some sucker minnows and backtroll.

 

[Captain Ahab]

Walleyes have teeth and predator brains... That being said, lets long line some sucker minnows and backtroll.

I would prefer using shiners and a 12 foot snell.

 

[johnr]

It surprises me they would need to be fast with how slow night crawlers are

 

[Reprobait]

I did catch Walleyes one time going pretty fast running Shad Raps. I had a 16 ft 50 horse windshield boat and I was going fast enough to lift the bow. I did not have GPS with me. 8 mph?

 

[Lycanthrope]

Keeping cranks down can be challenging when going fast, they gotta be tuned just right....

 

[Enslow]

I dont think u could troll fast enough to "outrun" a walleye.

 

[martinslanding]

I dont think u could troll fast enough to "outrun" a walleye.

walleyes have feet ?!?

 

[Sub_Elect]

^^^^^^^

hahahahahaha!

 

[Enslow]

They dont have feet, they have fins and fish bodies and tails.