Vulnerable to over fishing. Mainly surface feeders in shallow water, consuming insects, snails and other fish, including grasshoppers, moths, fireflies, crustaceans, mollusks, frogs, shrews, mice, trout perch, shiners, darters, and perch. Young feed mainly on microscopic crustaceans. Lake Winnipeg was once the largest producer of these fish, but stocks there were almost wiped out in the 1920's from overfishing. Today the main fishery is centred in the North and South Saskatchewan River.
Commercial fishermen use gillnets.
When fresh, the flesh of the goldeye is soft and unpalatable. When smoke-cured it is sold as Winnipeg goldeye and commands a high price. Said to be as sporty as a trout when taken on light tackle with flies but not currently a popular fish with anglers. Overwinters in deeper areas of lakes and rivers, moving to shallow, firm-bottomed spawning sites from May to the first week in July. Prefers slow currents over gravelly or rocky lake and river bottoms.