Saugeye

The Saugeye is a hybrid fish created by crossing a female walleye with a male sauger. Saugeyes can be taken with light spinning and bait casting tackle using spinners, spoons, or live bait like minnows or night crawlers.

Region

Midwest, West

Catch ease

Easy

Habitat

Lake, River, Pond

HOW TO IDENTIFY A SAUGEYE

These fish are often confused with their parental species but can typically be distinguished by their markings. Saugeyes have dark brown backs with darker saddle shaped markings like that of a sauger, and a white blotch on the lower tip of their tails like that of a walleye. These fish also have a continuous black blotch at the base of the dorsal fin, while saugers only have rows of distinct black spots.

WHERE TO CATCH SAUGEYE

Saugeye occur in the middle portion of the U.S. and are focused along the Mississippi River drainage basin and its surrounding tributaries. They can be found as far north as Michigan and as far south as Mississippi. Although they do occur naturally in the same regions as walleye and saugers, they are often farm raised and released into the wild to supplement other sport fish populations.

Saugeyes are typically more tolerant of warm water than walleyes, and are particularly suited to life in turbid reservoirs. Saugeyes often run upriver in winter and spring, congregating in slow moving waters below dams.

The following list includes places where you can catch Saugeye:

Cliffs and Steep Shore Banks

Gradual Shores

Inlets and Outlets

Open Water

Points and Break Lines

Dams and Falls

Spring Holes

Freshwater Lakes and Ponds

Holes

Inside Turns and Coves

Piers, Docks and Pilings

Rocks

Shoreline Shallows

Sunken Objects

HOW TO CATCH SAUGEYE

Like their parent species, Saugeyes can be taken with light spinning and bait casting tackle using spinners, spoons, or live bait like minnows or night crawlers. These fish can often be caught at night and are considered to be excellent table fare.

The following are fishing methods you can use to catch Saugeye: