walleye

[loggerhead]

Can some of you walleye guy's tell me what the difference is between a walleye, and a sauger, and what is the range of a sauger, as far as what part of the country they live in?

[bankpoleken]

Sauger can be differentiated from walleye by the presence of round dusky spots in oblique rows between the rays of the spiny dorsal, the presence of scales on the cheeks, and the absence of a pale lower caudal lobe (Brown 1971).
Walleye, sauger, and yellow perch are all members of the perch family.




Sauger are one of the most widely distributed North American fishes with a historical range extending across most of central and eastern North America from the St. Lawrence-Champlain system south, west of the Appalachian Mountains, to the Tennessee River in Alabama, and northwestward to central Montana and Alberta (Scott and Crossman 1973).

[Schoe]

I used to fish a lot for Walleye and Saugers in the Mississippi river in pools 14, 15, and 16 with saugers being the majority of what was caught. Bottom structure and current breaks below locks and bulkheads produced very well. The top and bottom of wing dams also produced at times.

Using 1/4 to 1/2 oz. florescent color jigs and twister tails tipped with a minnow we bounced the bottom for them using the trolling motor to regulate speed. Schoe

[rockinmichigan]

I can't say I've seen them in person, but I've heard of people catchin' them up in Lake Erie. Walleye seems to be more common unless people are misidentifying them.

[Schoe]

I think your right rockinmichigan, I have fished Erie a couple of times and all we caught were Walleyes and no Saugers. Thats not saying there aren't any. I have a couple of friends around Toledo I have to get started on the site as they do a lot of Erie fishing and can answer a lot of our questions. Where are you at Scott Schaad? Schoe

[rockinmichigan]

Schoe, if you've got friends around Toledo then it seems like you'll have to come out here sometime, since Toledo is pretty much in my backyard. I can't wait for springtime when those 'eyes start running and go into the bays. I usually wait to go for them when they start going into the bays, and try my luck nightfishing for them. It just gets so darned busy on the rivers that it gets pretty elbow to elbow.

[Catbird]

I have an old 23' cuddy cabin I hope to have ready for this spring. It would be great to hook up with someone that knows what's going on in that area. I have only been out on Lake Erie 2 times and both times was charter fishing for walleyes/perch.

[rockinmichigan]

Catbird, how did you end up doing on those charters? I've seen people do fairly well coming in on those charters. Costs a pretty penny but I suppose its worth it considering how much you can catch.

[Catbird]

I purchased a walleye charter off ebay for $300 for up to 6 people. The first day, we ended up with high wind and 5-6' swells. Came in early and caught a few perch. The Capt. cut the trip short and gave us another trip for 2 weeks later. I insisted on paying him $100 for fuel though. Better trip...brought home 6 large walleye and 150 nice perch. Just a thought, if anyone wants the name of a good fair Capt., just PM me.

[rockinmichigan]

Sounds like you had a pretty good trip Catbird, I'll have to get a hold of you about that charter. Maybe will have to hook up with him on some perch and 'eye fishin'.

[wayneh77]

Sauger



Common Names: Sand pike, spotfin pike, gray pike, ground pike.



Fishing Techniques: Minnows are the best bait. Saugers tend to feed on or near the bottom. Some of the best fishing is below dams in the tailwaters. Early morning and evening are best times. They will hit fairly large minnows and are “lazy” hitters. Are quite adept at “stealing” bait. Will hit spoons, jigs or spinners, especially if tipped with a minnow.

Identification: A member of the perch family. Its best identifying marks are its spotted spiny dorsal. It’s body colors are more of a dusky-brown to yellowish-olive, with large, irregular patches on its side, peppered in between with smaller dark markings and a white underside. Very slim build in comparison to its cousin the walleye. Has a silvery, reflective eye similar to the walleye’s, and a mouth full of canine teeth. When handled, it flares out its gills, flattens its head and shivers as if bracing itself for the hook removal.

Feeding Habits: They feed on small fishes, insects and insect larvae, and crustaceans. Tend to feed on or near the bottom.

Habitat: A fish of larger lakes and rivers that is tolerant of a certain degree of turbidity. Favors deeper channels or old river beds, and tailrace waters of dams. In Virginia it inhabits the rivers of the Tennessee drainage.

Spawning Habits: From March to May, usually in shallows over rocky reefs, or along sandy shores or shoals where water action aerates its eggs. It may also spawn in the deep rocky runs of rivers Semi buoyant eggs are scattered amid rocks, fertilized by the males as they are released. Natural hybridization with walleyes is said to be common.

[titowoody]

Walleyes and SaugEyes have a big white spot on the lower exterior portion of the tail fin.
Saugers over 5 lbs are very rare, but lb for lb I find them scrappier than their bigger cousins