Freshwater

Sauger

Sauger (lucioperca canadiense)

Sander canadensis

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–2 lb.

Depth

5–40 ft.

Best time

All day in murky water; dusk is best.

Found in

7 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Smaller cousin of the walleye: bronze-tan body with dark saddle-shaped blotches, rows of distinct black spots on the spiny dorsal fin, and no white tip on the lower tail (the walleye has one).
Typical size: 1–2 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and close to 9 lb.
Diet: Small fish (shad, minnows) and insects.
Behavior: Prefers big, murky rivers with current; gathers below dams in late fall and winter.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Midwest & Ohio Valley Lakes, Upper Midwest Lakes, Ozarks & Mid-South, Canadian Prairies, Northern Ontario, Ontario Great Lakes and Quebec. Big rivers and their reservoirs: the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Illinois rivers, and the Red River and Lake of the Woods region of Canada.
Habitat: Big rivers and their reservoirs: the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Illinois rivers, and the Red River and Lake of the Woods region of Canada.
Depth: 5–40 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom in 10–30 ft.
Best season: Late fall through early spring, especially below dams.
Best time: All day in murky water; dusk is best.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Cloudy, cold days.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Jigs Rigs Crankbaits Net

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Big rivers and their reservoirs: the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Illinois rivers, and the Red River and Lake of the Woods region of Canada.
Rig up: Medium-light spinning rod. Not needed.
Pick your bait: Minnows on a jig. Lures: Jigs with plastic tails, blade baits and stickbaits.
Fish it: Jig minnows or plastics on the bottom in current breaks below dams; keep contact with the bottom.
Time it: All day in murky water; dusk is best. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Jig minnows or plastics on the bottom in current breaks below dams; keep contact with the bottom.
BigJoe's tip: Look at the dorsal fin: neat rows of black spots mean sauger.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Sweet, white, flaky — just as good as walleye.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp teeth and spines; tailwaters have strong, dangerous currents.
Regulations: States set limits, often combined with walleye; check local rules. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.
Conservation: Numbers have dropped in some rivers; follow limits.

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Sources & photo credits