Why walleye, bass and salmon depend on wetlands more than you think 

The walleye and wetlands connection 

Walleye are low-light predators. The reflective layer on their eyes (and source of their moniker) allows them to see in dim or murky water, giving them a competitive advantage in the shaded environments.

Wetlands provide a diverse range of prey on which walleye can feed and thrive. When wetlands are connected to lakes, they can provide a richer supply of prey fish. Walleye that use these areas feed more, which can help support their growth. For anglers, richer feeding grounds in and around wetlands can translate into bigger walleye.  

Pascal Badiou, Ph.D., research scientist at Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), says “wetlands provide habitat for a variety of small fish and aquatic invertebrates that larger fish depend on for food.” 

In this way, wetlands help sustain healthy walleye populations by supporting the prey base that fuels their growth. 

Benefit for bass: spawning habitat, food sources and cleaner water

Many anglers have experienced a lost lure or two, while trying to get just close enough to the reeds to snag a largemouth bass. These fish are known to lurk in the aquatic vegetation abutting wetland edges, hiding among the nooks and crannies between cattails, waterlilies or submerged branches, ready to ambush their prey.

Bass take full advantage of the food that wetlands provide. They feed on smaller fish, as well as insects, crustaceans and even small amphibians, all of which are abundant in wetland habitats. This combination of cover and prey makes these areas ideal feeding grounds.  

Wetlands also play an important role during early life stages. Like many fish species, largemouth bass use shallow, vegetated areas for spawning and for raising their young.  

When breeding, largemouth bass build nests in shallow water, typically one to four feet deep, in sheltered areas near aquatic vegetation. They guard their eggs and young, using nearby cover to protect them from predators. “Wetlands are often shallow and dominated by vegetation, which provides structure where smaller or juvenile fish can hide from predators,” says Badiou. 

All of this makes wetlands and their surrounding vegetation prime areas for anglers targeting bass.

Salmon – from wetlands to open water 

For Pacific salmon, wetlands are not just important. They are essential during one of the most critical stages of their life cycle. 

After hatching in freshwater rivers and streams, juvenile salmon move downstream toward the ocean. Along the way, they rely on coastal wetlands in estuaries such as tidal marshes and eelgrass meadows. These environments provide abundant food, allowing young salmon to grow before entering the open ocean. 

Wetlands also help salmon adjust from fresh water to salt water. Because estuaries are a mix of both, they allow fish to gradually adapt to this major physiological change, improving their chances of survival once they reach the ocean. 

The Fraser River in British Columbia is the largest salmon-bearing river in Canada and acts as a superhighway to hundreds of millions of migrating Pacific salmon, many of which depend on access to these tidal areas. DUC senior restoration biologist Eric Balke, M.Sc., is leading projects that help reconnect juvenile salmon to these habitats. By restoring tidal marshes and creating “off-ramps” from the main river channel, these projects give young salmon access to calmer, food-rich areas they might otherwise miss.  

“The Fraser River is a massive highway, and if you are a juvenile salmon, it can be hard to navigate the current,” says Balke. “Although these quieter areas exist, they may be hard to find. By creating these off-ramps, we are giving fish access to habitat they need to feed and grow before heading out to sea.” 

Creation of tidal marshes in this area is being attempted with cutting-edge work from Balke and team with the Process-Based Marsh Establishment Project: constructing a number of timber pile and brushwood dams outside the dike. These structures are designed to slow water, promote buildup of sediment and create the enabling conditions for tidal marsh establishment over time. 

Restoration of coastal wetlands in British Columbia is also underway via the Sturgeon Bank Sediment Enhancement Pilot Project. This project is aimed at restoring tidal marsh fish habitat and building marsh resilience to keep pace with rising seas. Sturgeon Bank has lost more than 395 acres (160 hectares) of tidal marsh since the 1980s. Restoring sediment supply is essential, not just for the marsh itself, but for everything it supports: Pacific salmon, migratory birds, carbon storage and flood resilience for surrounding communities. 

What you can do 

Wetland conservation is of critical importance for the health of all the interconnected species that rely on the habitat and energy sources they provide. At DUC, our mission is to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for the benefit of North America’s waterfowl, wildlife and people.  

Consider supporting this work, because great fishing starts with healthy wetlands.