Walleye

How to tell a walleye from the fish it's most often mistaken for, and what you can keep in each BC region.

How to confirm it's a walleye

Large, glassy, silvery eyes
White tip on the lower lobe of the tail
Sharp teeth; dark blotch at the back of the spiny dorsal fin

Could it be something else?

Yellow perch
Yellow perch have bold bars and small eyes.

Walleye quotas by region

Each region's quota rule that covers walleye, in the synopsis' words. Many waters set their own, lower quota or require release; check the water.

Region 1 · Vancouver Island

No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.

Region 2 · Lower Mainland

No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.

Region 3 · Thompson-Nicola

No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.

Region 4 · Kootenay

Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 15 (none from streams), no more than 5 over 30 cm. Northern pike, walleye, yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions). White sturgeon: closed to fishing (no exceptions). Whitefish: 15 (all species combined).

Region 5 · Cariboo

No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.

Region 6 · Skeena

No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.

Region 7A · Omineca

No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.

Region 7B · Peace

Arctic grayling: 2 (none under 30 cm and only 1 over 45 cm); release any size May 1-June 15 and all from Williston Lake and its tributaries. Goldeye: 10. Inconnu: 1. Kokanee: 10 (none from streams, except Peace River). Northern pike: 3 (only 1 over 90 cm). Walleye: 3 (only 1 over 70 cm); release all from streams Apr 1-May 15. Whitefish: 15 (all species combined). Yellow perch: 5.

Region 8 · Okanagan

Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions). Burbot: 2. Crappie: 20. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 5 (none from streams). Walleye: 8. Whitefish: 15 (all species combined). Yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions).

Waters with their own walleye rules

Kootenay River · Columbia River · Charlie Lake · Pine River · Swan Lake

The drawings are Fishable's own recognition aids, not portraits; colours vary with size, season and water. Quotas from the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis 2025-2027, data of October 29, 2026. If you can't be sure what a fish is, release it.