Skip to main content

Finding Fall and Winter Sauger

Finding Fall and Winter Sauger

Winter sauger are common in many riverine environments throughout the natural and extended range of their larger cousin, the walleye. Unlike walleye, however, sauger often are ignored. Worse, they're sometimes considered a nuisance. If you've never given sauger a fair chance, here are a couple of reasons to reconsider. They bite well when walleyes won't. They bite aggressively and are great to eat. Before you can catch them, though, you have to find them.

Tackle

Rod: 6- to 6-1/2-foot medium-power spinning rod

Reel: medium-capacity spinning reel with a long-cast spool

Line: 6- to 10-pound-test abrasion-resistant mono, or 6- or 8-pound Berkley Fireline

Location

Big sauger in rivers don't hold with the small boys. Smaller sauger generally inhabit the deepest available pools, holes, or main-river basin areas. Bigger sauger cruise the same haunts walleyes frequent, but arrive and feed on these spots early or late in the day, or for more extended periods on nasty, windy, precipitous days. Look for the biggest sauger at the head of structural elements like gravel bars, sandbars, points, holes, and humps. They also hold to the current side of structural elements more than walleyes do, and they inhabit areas of current that walleyes avoid.

In reservoirs, sauger inhabit flats near main-lake points. Typically, they're belly-to-bottom on sand, gravel, or rubble in the 30- to 40-foot range. In deep western reservoirs, sauger tend to tuck into the first one or two coves of main creek arms behind major points on the main body of the reservoir.

Presentation

The biggest sauger in any given area tend to position in or near slight to moderate current at the head of structures. If possible, position the boat by anchoring abreast of these key locations. Cast above and beyond them, dragging or popping the jig downstream and across the element, which keeps the jig in the sauger's line of vision for the longest possible time. Where current allows, positioning with a trolling motor while casting works as well or better. In reservoirs, dragging a jig across the flats usually triggers more fish. Experiment with erratic retrieves, but keep your jig moving slowly on or just above the bottom where sauger feed.

Recommended





GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Bluegill Basics

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: European Speed Fishing for Panfish

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Location Secrets for Fall Crappies

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Take a Kid Fishing

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Classic Crappie Presentations

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Fall Panfish Patterns

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

In-Fisherman Classic: Summertime Bluegills

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

Angler and Rescuers Reunite After One-In-A-Million Offshore Epic

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

World-Class Channel Cats below the Selkirk Dam in Manitoba with Blackwater Cats

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

Controlled Drifting for GIANT Blue Cats with Phil King

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Learn

3 SIMPLE and EASY Catfish Rigging Tips with Captain Ross Robertson

Check out this classic catfish video from the early days of In-Fisherman! Watch Al Lindner, Ottis
Destinations

CATFISH FEVER!

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the In-Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use