State Fish - Walleye
The walleye became the official state fish in 1965.
The walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) became the official state fish in 1965. This popular game fish is found throughout Minnesota in lakes and rivers. Walleyes are most at home in the large, clear, cool lakes of Minnesota’s northern forests; their eyes are sensitive to light, so they go to deep, dark waters during the day and move to shallow areas at night. Minnesota’s record walleye weighed 17 pounds, 8 ounces.
Walleye: Stizostedion vitreum (DNR)
Minnesota Statutes 1965 section 1.146
State Symbols
- State Bird - Loon
- State Drink - Milk
- State Fish - Walleye
- State Flag
- State Seal
- State Song - Hail! Minnesota
- State Fruit - Honeycrisp Apple
- State Butterfly - Monarch
- State Flower - Pink Lady's Slipper
- State Gemstone - Agate
- State Grain - Wild Rice
- State Muffin - Blueberry
- State Mushroom - Morel
- State Photograph - Grace
- State Sport - Ice Hockey
- State Tree- Norway Pine
- State Soil - Lester
- State Motto - L’etoile du Nord
- State Bee - Rusty Patched Bumblebee