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All about sauger and saugeye fishing.

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

About Sauger

Sauger

A member of the perch family, it is closely related to the walleye and quite similar in appearance. Sauger are found throughout the US even though their initial distribution was among the waters of central North America, including the Mississippi and Missouri River regions. It is generally smaller than walleye, reaching 4 to 5 pounds and up to about 20 inches. Often found in muddy rivers, it thrives in larger, silty lakes. Sauger spawn in the shallows at night, without creating or guarding specific nests.


About Saugeye

Saugeye

A saugeye is a hybrid, created by mating sauger with walleye. The walleye influence allows the hybrids to grow larger than sauger, often to sizes equaling walleye. Saugeye tend to survive best in turbid/silty water and are caught in the same general areas and habitat populated by walleye and sauger.


Fishing for sauger and saugeye

Techniques used for walleye fishing typically work for sauger and saugeye. Also, the top lures and bait for catching sauger and saugeye are the same as the most popular baits for walleye.


Sauger

Stizostedion canadense

Sauger

As they resemble a pickerel, they are also known as gray pickerel, spotfin pike, gray pike and river pike. Ideal water temperature: 64° to 72°

World record: 17 pounds, 7 ounces

Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and the rough covering of the gill area. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come by, this is the time to fish for sauger. Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish close to, or on, the bottom and experiment with presentation, action and speed.


Saugeye

A cross between sauger and walleye.

Saugeye

This is a fast growing fish but does not get as big as the walleye. Ideal water temperature: 65° to 75°

USA record: 15 pounds, 6 ounces

This hybrid (walleye/sauger) successfully inhabits waters where the walleye sometimes struggles. Look for them near bottom on sandy bars and particularly along drop offs and river channels. Use small crankbaits that resemble minnows, shad or small crappies. Fish is their primary food source.


Sauger & Saugeye

SPRING

Top Baits: Small crankbaits, small jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow to moderate depths as the walleye move into the shallows to spawn, actually spawning during the dark of night. Gravel ledges, points and submerged humps in protected areas are ideal holding areas.

SUMMER

Top Baits: Crankbaits, Jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. Use lures that mimic crawfish or baitfish. Follow points and rocky or gravel structure deeper until you establish the proper depth.

FALL

Top Baits: Jigs, crankbaits and spoons.
Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the sun rises move deeper toward outside structure and use small spoons or jigs.

WINTER

Top Baits: Jigs, spoons and plastic worms.
Try moderately shallow depths in the mornings then move deeper as the sun rises. Both species are less active in cold water, so move your bait in a slow, easy to catch manner and fish deep structure.

 

Walleye, sauger or saugeye fishing waters by state.

AL Walleye Fishing AR Walleye Fishing AZ Walleye Fishing CO Walleye Fishing CT Walleye Fishing DE Walleye Fishing GA Walleye Fishing IA Walleye Fishing ID Walleye Fishing IL Walleye Fishing IN Walleye Fishing
KS Walleye Fishing KY Walleye Fishing MA Walleye Fishing MD Walleye Fishing MI Walleye Fishing MN Walleye Fishing MO Walleye Fishing MS Walleye Fishing MT Walleye Fishing NC Walleye Fishing ND Walleye Fishing
NE Walleye Fishing NH Walleye Fishing NJ Walleye Fishing NM Walleye Fishing NV Walleye Fishing NY Walleye Fishing OH Walleye Fishing OK Walleye Fishing OR Walleye Fishing PA Walleye Fishing SC Walleye Fishing
SD Walleye Fishing TN Walleye Fishing TX Walleye Fishing UT Walleye Fishing VA Walleye Fishing VT Walleye Fishing WA Walleye Fishing WI Walleye Fishing WV Walleye Fishing WY Walleye Fishing

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