Sauger & Saugeye Information

Sauger & Saugeye

Name: Sauger

Scientific Name:Sander canadensis

Characteristics:

The sauger is a freshwater fish of the perch family and resembles its close relative the walleye. Saugers, however, are usually smaller and will tolerate warmer waters than the walleye. They may be distinguished from walleyes by the distinctly spotted dorsal fin, the dark speckles and dark spots on their sides, by the lack of a white splotch on the tip of the tail, and by their generally more brassy color, or darker (almost black) color. Saugers and Walleye will cross breed and the offspring are know as Saugeyes. These exhibit traits of both species and is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between them and either one, but saugeyes generally carry the dark blotches characteristic of the sauger and do not have a big white tip but may have a small white tip on tail.

Name: Saugeye

Scientific Name:

Sander vitreus x Sander canadense

Characteristics:

Saugeye carry both traits of their two parent species, the sauger and walleye. The best character to look at for identifying this hybrid is the dark bars or oblong vertical spots. Saugeye have dark laterally oblong blotches on their sides but they tend to be smaller than those of a sauger. Saugeye also have white tips on the lower part of the tail and anal fins. These are more defined than the very thin light colored margin of a sauger but less defined than the large white tips found on a walleye. The over all body color of a saugeye is also intermediate between the gray to silver color of a walleye and the bronze or brown color of a sauger.

Adult Size: The average sauger weighs 2lbs in weight but the world record was 8.1 kg (17 lbs, 12 ounces.)

Adult Size: The average saugeye weighs 2lbs in weight, reach 30 inches in length and can reach 14 pounds.

Distribution:

Saugers are mostly found in rivers and faster flowing water. The sauger is highly prized as a food fish. Sauger are found throughout North America from the deep southern U.S to the fast moving waters of Northern Canada. Saugers are not typically found in lakes or resiviors but can be caught in the rivers that flow into the lake. These fish also prefer clear water with little to no mud or silt.

Saugeye are highly adaptable to most lake and river environments and can be found in muddy waters. They are stocked in many reservoirs but because they carry the sauger trait they head for running water making it possible to catch them in the tail waters of those reservoirs. Also, they occasionally can be caught well down stream of reservoirs they were stocked into. They also can be found in the same locations as both walleye and sauger.

Fish Habits:

All three species spawn at the same time and in the same places. However, saugeye usually do not reproduce with another saugeye, they are not sterile and readily reproduce with either parent stock. All three fish, head for flowing water in spring to spawn, when the water temperature reaches the mid 40F to mid 50F range.

Fishing Tactics:

Although saugeye are a cross between walleye and sauger, they often behave differently than walleye, so methods can vary. Saugeye are not likely to suspend off the bottom, unlike walleye, so present lures close to the bottom. Most classic walleye rigs and presentations work for saugeyes, but jigs tipped with livebait are particularly effective.

Starting at ice-out, drift minnow-tipped Fire-Ball Jigs with Sting’r Hooks close to the bottom. Like saugers, they will often ignore a bait presented more than a few inches off the bottom, so use enough weight to maintain bottom contact. As fish move into their summer locations, drift jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler across rocky points and reefs.

Numbers of fish have been caught by trolling Shad Rap Hardbaits around points above the thermocline. In other regions, shore casting using weighted pickeral rigs tipped with commercially frozen minnows work best especially just before dark. This last technique has produced enough fish to quickly become the favorite technique.

Diet consists of a variety of small fish, leeches, worms and insects, use lures that match these.

Sauger, and saugeye feed the same as walleye on fish, use minnow style lures.

Consider water color when determining how deep to fish. In clear water fish deeper, and in darker or muddy water, fish shallower. It is not uncommon to catch sauger and saugeye in less than two feet of water. It’s never too muddy or fast flowing for a saugeye, but sauger do not like muddy water, in dark-water conditions, try black jigs and twister tails.

During spring runoff with high flows, Sauger tend to stay out of strong current. Look in the slack water behind islands, behind rocks and in deep pockets below the main current. They will also concentrate near shore along rip rap, trees and other woody debris.

During low flows, sauger tend to move off shore to deeper flats. Check the traditional hotspots, especially the mouths of river tributaries, remember, as water temperature increases, sauger move down stream to water inflows, tributary streams and islands. Lower water temperatures in the late fall, winter and early spring you will find both sauger and saugeye near shore and as summer warms water look for structures meeting the old river channel, focus on the drop-off edge, but don’t be afraid to fish shallow flats, particularly if the water’s muddy.

Fish close to shore in shallower water at dawn, dusk and after dark, Sauger and Saugeye will chase minnows into a few inches of water. If you see minnows jumping out of the water usually they are being chased by a walleye, sauger or saugeye if you cast a Floating Minnow Hardbait imitation into area and you’re likely to catch it.

Some of the better jig and twister-tail color combinations to employ for sauger include white, yellow, chartreuse, orange and other bright patterns. Remember that like the walleye, sauger are light sensitive. They usually won’t stay in areas where the sunlight penetrates too deeply.

Tackle:

Medium to light weight open face spinning rod and reel equipped with 6 – 10 pound test line.

Lures:

Jigs & 1/8 to ½ oz with twister tail bodies

Bottom Rigs with weights (pickerel rigs)

Jointed Minnow style hard baits

Always keep minnow on hand they have rescued many a trip for anglers.

Minimize the use terminal tackle.

Cleaning:

Using a good clean Fillet Knife clean the same as Filleting A Walleye (article)

Recipes:

Breaded Yellow Perch