Colorado isn't known as a great walleye state, but there are those who know better. You'll recognize them by their confident grins and the worm dirt under some fingernails.

Make that "crawler" dirt. Walleye wizards often flavor their lures, but they never call their sacrificial annelids "nightcrawlers" and definitely never say "worms."

That would be one premise of walleye fishing you might learn Sunday at the fourth All Eyes on Walleyes Expo at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton.

Another is that Colorado is a great walleye state.

In fact, for a semiarid territory with unstable reservoir levels, no big lakes and virtually no natural walleye reproduction, Colorado is something of a man-made miracle, able to hold its own against famed walleye states of the upper Midwest.

One reason is that we grow 'em big. The Colorado state-record walleye went 18 pounds, 13 ounces. That's more than a pound heavier, for example, than the record from Minnesota, where walleye fishing is a form of worship.

Through an intensive walleye spawn-taking and hatchery-rearing program in the delicate early stages of their life, walleyes and their half-siblings, saugeyes, have proliferated in warm-water reservoirs to become Colorado anglers' second favorite fish, behind all trout combined.

Each year, in late March and April, Division of Wildlife biologists and volunteers muster at Cherry Creek, Chatfield and Pueblo reservoirs to tend gill nets and harvest walleye eggs and milt.

Last year, their labors produced 102.8 million fertilized eggs, enough to make 76.6 million young walleyes and saugeyes for future fishing. The work starts again in a couple of weeks. Most of the spawn-taking volunteers come from the Colorado Walleye Association, the same group that will host the All Eyes on Walleyes Expo from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

The event concentrates on how, where and when to catch Colorado walleyes. It also is a walleye boat and tackle shop, offering equipment and rigs for sale - including crawler harnesses - with free side dishes of walleye wisdom.

Guest speakers include pro walleye angler Ron Gazvoda (What to Do When), at 9:30 a.m.; Division of Wildlife biologist Paul Winkle (Local and State Fishing Forecast), at 11:30 a.m.; and broadcaster Terry Wickstrom (Walleye Seasonal Movements), at 1:30 p.m.

Admission is $5. Children younger than 10 are free. The Adams County Fairgrounds is at 9755 Henderson Road (124th Avenue, one mile west of U.S. 85 in Brighton).

Information: www.CWAOnline.net.

TALKING TURKEY: With a little more than a month to go before spring turkey hunting opens, turkey talk is on the minds of many.

Saturday, the Weld County Yelpers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its sixth banquet, auction and fundraiser in Greeley. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N. 14th Ave. Tickets are $50 for individuals, $70 for couples. Information: Jay Schimpf, 303-916-8029.

Also, the Division of Wildlife will host a free turkey-hunting clinic 6:30-9:30 p.m. March 20 at the Hilton Inn, 425 W. Prospect Road in Fort Collins. Seats are limited, so register early by emailing lisa.evans@state.co.us.

The evening session will cover wild-turkey habits and habitats, turkey biology, hunting techniques, preparation for the hunt and turkey hunting ethics.

dentrye@RockyMountainNews.com