Most walleye are yellow, but occasionally a variation occurs which gives the fish a blue color. Walleye prefer the deep water sections of large lakes, streams, and rivers. They have large, light-sensitive eyes that help them locate food in poor light. To protect their eyes from the sun, walleye stay in sheltered or deep water during the day and move into shallower water at night. They are voracious predators and use their large canine teeth to catch a variety of minnows and the young of other fishes.
Yellow perch are often a favorite meal.
Spawning takes place from mid-March to early April. Adult walleye randomly release their eggs over rocky bottoms of lake shoals or gravel bars in rivers and streams. The eggs fall between the rock crevices to hatch. Walleye are popular sportfish and play an important role in New York State's tourism industry. Anglers and non-anglers alike hold walleye in high esteem due to their excellent taste.