Walleye: A Beautiful Fish of the Dark

by Paul J. Radomski

Walleye, the holy grail of game on catching them, understanding their biology and history, and ensuring their survival

  Among the more than 34,000 species of fish, few have the walleye’s following—among anglers and diners, states conferring official status on the fish, and towns battling for recognition as the Walleye Capital of the World. And among those passionate fans, few know the walleye as well as Paul J. Radomski does—a fisheries biologist, lake ecology scientist, and old fisherman. In A Beautiful Fish of the Dark he unspools the mysteries of this fascinating fish. Radomski looks at walleye from every angle, with something to say to the curious naturalist, committed ecologist, and avid fishing enthusiast. People who view walleye as the “lion of the lakes” might be surprised to learn that rivers are their ancestral habitat. Some might wonder about the name “wall-eye,” a nod to an evolutionary adaptation to dark water environments. Others might simply why walleye? What are they, where do they exist, how do they survive, and how have people come to depend on them? Radomski discusses the principles and pitfalls of managing this predator of the twilight (and the history and methods of doing so) and shares his informed perspective on when and where stocking is prudent. Finally, he explores three of the best walleye Winnebago, the largest inland walleye fishery in Wisconsin, and Mille Lacs and Red Lake in Minnesota. From the simple pleasures of fishing for walleye to the most pressing questions about how this species survives, this book is the best word on this beautiful fish of the dark.

Genres: Animals, Nature

336 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a really fascinating chapter about the methods and limitations of fish stocking. I’d recommend the book for this chapter alone.

Other memorable parts include a hot take about cost benefit analysis and case studies on specific examples of fishery management, like in lake Winnebago.

The author keeps things entertaining with some colorful language and recurring dry humor like when he expresses his preference for while I meet over most other animals.

The statistics were sometimes mucky to wade through and could have been summarized/interpreted more

[Hugh Nugent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book on the natural history of Walleye. Dives deep into fishing history, stocking history, and the specifics of the commercial industry in Walleye fishing. Also dives deep into Walleye biology and is a good read for anyone interested into fishing.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in parts, but it got really long-winded over biological details that were repeated over and ove towards the final 1/3 of the book.

[Sarah Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good fish book. very interesting perspective on the mille lacs fishery collapse.

[Pierogi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book, no notes

[Mike Bentdahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for a fisheries study course but maybe slightly overwhelming for the casual reader.