A Walleye Of A Lifetime For One North Dakota Angler

A Golden Walleye

Have you ever heard of a "golden" walleye before? Me neither, and I've been fishing since I was old enough to hold a rod and reel in my hands. One lucky angler by the name of Ethan Bear scored this fish of a lifetime. He caught himself a "golden" walleye recently in one North Dakota body of water. Here is a look at this stunning fish.

The fish reportedly measured 27 inches. Bear said he didn't weigh the fish, but a fish that size would be in the 6 to 7 pound range. Ethan also did something that I think is pretty commendable: he released the fish. You can see the video for that in the comments of the post on the North Dakota Fishing Facebook page.

Why Release a Fish Like That?

First off, today's replicas are made from superior molds taken right off a fish. It would be relatively easy for a professional taxidermist to recreate that fish with a couple of measurements and a few good photos. In addition, replica fish mounts never crack because of shrinkage or lose their color as traditional skin mounts do.

Secondly, Bear is allowing another fisherman to catch a fish of a lifetime as he did. Hopefully, the next fisherman will do the same and release the fish.

What Lake or River?

What body of water was this "golden" walleye caught in? That will remain a mystery as Ethan Bear didn't disclose that information to prevent a swarm of fishermen from going after this special fish.

What Causes This Color Phase?

This is an extraordinarily rare catch. Two factors are thought to cause this appearance.

#1 Xanthism: This is the primary cause of a "one-in-million" golden walleye. Xanthosis is a rare genetic pigment mutation where a fish produces an excessive amount of yellow and the scales appear solid gold. I believe that is the cause of Bear's fish.

#2 Stained Water: Sometimes, normal walleyes will have a more golden or brassy look because of their environment. Probably not the case in Bear's situation.

Other color variations in walleyes include a "blue" walleye or "greenback" walleyes. I was lucky enough to catch a "greenback" walleye up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before.