Saugeye fishing
Sander vitreus x Sander canadensis. Hybrid cross between a female walleye and a male sauger, combining traits of both parents.
Saugeye fishing uses a jig or a nightcrawler on a jighead on 6 to 12 lb line and a medium spinning tackle for jigs, at dawn, at dusk, and at night. Saugeye are a hatchery-produced hybrid maintained entirely by stocking, put into reservoirs where walleye populations are hard to maintain: Ohio alone stocks more than 7 million a year across more than 70 reservoirs.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn, Dusk, and Night
- Line
- 6–12 lb
- Hook sizes
- –
- Stocked in
- 3 states
- Peak in SD
- June
Identification
- Hybrid cross between a female walleye and a male sauger, combining traits of both parents.
- Distinct dark saddle markings across the body and a streaked dorsal fin with rows of spots at its base.
- Grows faster than either parent species but generally doesn't reach the maximum size of a walleye.
- Hard to tell from walleye by eye alone; Ohio River genetic testing found about 27% of presumed walleye were actually saugeye.
Sources: ksoutdoors.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Sources: ksoutdoors.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , ohiodnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
Sources: ksoutdoors.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , ohiodnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 6–12 lb
- Rod power
- Medium spinning tackle for jigs; baitcasting tackle for crankbaits
Stocked behavior
Saugeye are a hatchery-produced hybrid maintained entirely by stocking, put into reservoirs where walleye populations are hard to maintain: Ohio alone stocks more than 7 million a year across more than 70 reservoirs. Because saugeye closely resemble their parent species, anglers targeting walleye in stocked reservoirs may be catching saugeye without realizing it.
Common mistakes
- Presenting lures off the bottom the way you would for walleye; saugeye are not likely to suspend off the bottom, so present lures close to the bottom.
- Always fishing deep; it is not uncommon to catch saugeye in less than six to eight feet of water.
Best time to fish Saugeye
Most commonly stocked in June in South Dakota, based on 37 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
28 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Ohio
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 10.88 lbs | Rocklyn Beise | John Martin Reservoir (Bent County) | 2001 |
| Kentucky | 9.03 lbs | Wolfgang Kratzenberg Verona, KY | Bullock Pen Lake | 2021 |
| Montana | 15.66 lbs. | Myron Kibler | Fort Peck Reservoir Squaw Creek | 1995 |
| Virginia | 6 lbs. 8 oz. | Brittany Watkins | Lake Gaston | 2023 |
| Wisconsin | 8 lbs. 14.7 oz. | – | Wisconsin River, Columbia County | 2009 |
Common questions
What lures work for Saugeye?
Jig, a jig in chartreuse, orange, and white. Deep-diving crankbait, a crankbait in firetiger, chartreuse, and orange. Spinner harness, a spinner in chartreuse, silver, and gold.
What bait works for Saugeye?
Nightcrawler on a jighead. Nightcrawler on a spinner harness.
How big do Saugeye get?
The Colorado record is 10.88 lbs from John Martin Reservoir (Bent County) in 2001. The Kentucky record is 9.03 lbs from Bullock Pen Lake in 2021. The Montana record is 15.66 lbs. from Fort Peck Reservoir Squaw Creek in 1995. 2 more state records are on this page.