Blue Pickerel AKA Blue Walleye

[zippyFX]

Not the extinct one.... But the walleye variant

I was fishing at Petrie Island on the Ottawa River one night this week and I caught a small walleye. As I was reeling it in I thought I had caught a large mouth because it of the colour I was seeing (more grey and pale than olive) . I was surprised to see that it was a small walleye (about 8 inches) with very light coloration and none of the walleye patterns I have come to expect, I thought it was just a juvenile walleye so I just unhooked it and tossed it back in.

I was wondering (and practicing my identification) so I decided to see what a juvenile walleye looked like. To my surprise the pictures I have seen have them looking like miniature walleye colour and all. This got me wondering, did I catch a blue walleye or is this usually explained by natural variation?

Anyone know if Blue Walleye can be found in the Ottawa River.

Kicking myself again for not taking a picture!