Perch

Sauger Fishing in Montana

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: 2
State: Montana
Water: Freshwater
Methods: Spin & Bait

Prime Months in Montana: No Agency Season Found

What to Use for Sauger

Fishing In

Sauger

No agency season found

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.

Licenses & Regulations

Most anglers need a Montana fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state. Seasons, limits, and tackle rules vary by water, so check current regulations before you go.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Where to Catch Sauger

2 of 2 waters

Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain

Lakes & Reservoirs · Montana

Fort Peck Lake

A Missouri River reservoir about 130 miles long, with walleye, northern pike, and lake trout.

Sauger: no agency season found here

View Water

Photo: Roger Peterson, U.S. Forest Service, Public domain

Rivers & Streams · Montana

Missouri River (Upper Missouri Breaks)

Part of the Missouri River

The Missouri River through BLM's Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, a float from Fort Benton past Coal Banks and Judith Landing to the James Kipp Recreation Area, where common sportfish include walleye, sauger, northern pike, channel catfish and smallmouth bass.

Sauger: no agency season found here

View Water