How to Catch a Sauger

Walleyes and saugers look nearly identical.

Saugers are closely related to walleye, a popular game fish in the United States. The fish bear a close resemblance to one another, which can make it difficult to tell them apart. They also taste very similar and have flaky white meat. Many of the techniques that fishermen use to catch walleyes can also be used to catch saugers.

Things You'll Need

• Rod and reel
• Line
• Sinker
• Swivel
• Hook
• Jig
• Bait

Instructions

1. Rig a rod or two. Rig one rod with a 1/4- to 1/2-oz. lead head jig and minnow. If you have a second rod, tie a live-bait rig on it. To do so, cut a 3-foot section of line for a leader. Slide a sliding sinker onto the end of the main line, and then tie a barrel swivel onto it. Tie the leader onto the other end of the swivel, and then tie a hook to the free end of the leader. Hook a minnow onto the hook.

2. Find a spot to fish. During the summer, saugers in lakes use areas similar to the ones walleyes use: drop-offs and the edges of main-lake humps and reefs. Rivers are the best options in the fall. Once the water temperature falls into the 50-degree range, saugers migrate to tailwater areas downstream from dams.

3. Fish deeper during the day and shallower during dark or low-light conditions. Like walleyes, saugers' eyes are sensitive to the sun, so they are most active under low-light conditions.

4. Vertical-jig for saugers if you are fishing from a boat. Use a jig heavy enough that it stays beneath the boat, and fish near the bottom. Bring the jig up a foot or so and then let it drop back to the bottom. Most fish hit when the jig is dropping. If you are fishing in a river from the shore, cast the jig with the minnow out and retrieve it near the bottom. Be careful not to let it sit on the bottom, or you may lose the jig to a snag.

5. Troll a live-bait rig around drop-offs and structural edges in lakes. When you catch a sauger, mark the spot. The fish travel around in large schools, so if you locate one fish, there is likely a school in the area. You can either continue trolling with the live-bait rig or drop a jig and jig vertically.

References

• Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; Hot Fishing for the Coldest Days; Lee McClellan
• Explore Kentucky Lake; Fishing 101, Sauger; Dave Stewart

Resources

• Animated Knots: The Palomar Knot