Perch

Sauger Fishing

Sauger
Image: Duane Raver, USFWS · Public domain

A smaller cousin of the walleye found in big, often muddy rivers of the Mississippi basin and Great Lakes. Sauger gather below dams in late fall and winter, where anglers work minnows slowly along the bottom.

Waters
15
States
9
Water
Freshwater
Methods
Spin & Bait

Prime Months by State

Highlighted months are the best fishing; the other months are slower, not empty. States not listed have no prime months from an agency source yet.

What to Use for Sauger

Fishing In

Sauger

Spin / Cast

6 to 6.5 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 8 to 10 lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader, 1/4 to 3/4 oz jig tipped with a minnow.

Rod, Reel and Line

  • RodUgly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod · 6 ft or 6 ft 6 in medium, 2 pieceCheck Price
  • ReelPflueger Trion Spinning Reel · size 30Check Price
  • LinePowerPro Spectra Braided Line · 8 lb or 10 lbCheck Price

Tie On in November

  • Lure for November · 1/8 to 3/8 ozJig and MinnowBright colors, near the bottom.See Options

Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.

Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Where to Catch Sauger

15 of 15 waters

Sauger Fishing by State