Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
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Olson, D. E., D. H. Schupp, V. Macins and R. L. Kendall (1978). An hypothesis of homing behavior of walleyes as related to observed patterns of passive and active movement. Pages 52-57 in R. Kendall and J. Stewart, eds. Selected Coolwater Fishes of North America, American Fisheries Society Special Publication, St. Paul, Minnesota (USA).
An hypothesis that walleye, Stizostedion vitreum, homing is an adult-learned behavior rather than a natal-imprinted response is presented. Marked adult walleyes tend to home to spawning areas. Individual walleyes tend to return to the same open-water feeding areas in successive years. Movement of immature walleyes often differs from that of adults in the same waters. Intensity of walleye homing varies in separate waters and appears to be influenced by physical characteristics of the environment and strengthened by repeated migrations. River and wind currents commonly move walleye eggs and fry great distances from the site of egg deposition before fry are sufficiently developed to commence feeding. This makes natal conditioning to spawning areas unlikely.