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General Information: Naturally reproducing populations of sauger occur in both the Ohio River and Lake Erie drainages; however, they are most abundant in the Ohio River. Sauger are considered one of the most popular sportfish in the Ohio River and represent a large portion of the fish caught by anglers at lock and dam “tailwaters”. Fishing techniques and tips will focus solely on fishing the Ohio River and its tributaries
State Record: 7.31 pounds, 24 1/2 inches, Maumee River
Bryan Wicks, Maumee, Ohio
March 10, 1981
Fish Ohio Length: 16 inches
Tips:
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Needle-nose fisherman’s pliers will be helpful to remove hooks from a mouth full of teeth.
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During high flows, Sauger tend to stay out of strong current. During high flows at lock and dam tailwaters, sauger move out of strong current behind the lock walls and on the slack water shoreline behind the lock. The will also concentrate near shore along rip rap, trees and other woody debris.
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During low flows, sauger tend to move off shore to deeper flats. Deeper water along lock walls also holds fish at low flow.
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Remember, as water temperature increases by May, sauger disperse away from the tailwaters and move “down pool” to confluences, tributary streams and islands.
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Lower water temperatures in the fall, winter and early spring concentrate sauger at the tailwaters and near shore (<12 feet).
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Check for near shore movement to shallower water at dawn, dusk and after dark. Daytime angling, especially in clear water, should be in deeper water. Sauger will move in shallow during the day in muddy conditions; however, the best fishing near shore is at night and ½ hour after sunrise and ½ hour before sunset.
Tackle: Medium to light weight open face spinning rod and reel equipped with 8-12 pound test “high abrasion” resistant line.
Regulations: 10 fish per day, singly or in combination with saugeye and walleye in the Western Unit of the Ohio River (KY/OH border), or in combination with saugeye in the Eastern Unit of the Ohio River
Seasonal Fishing Approaches:
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Summer
(June - mid-September)
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Fall
(mid-September - November)
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Winter
(December - February)
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Peak Activity
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Excellent |
Good |
Fair |
Excellent |
Excellent |
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Presentation
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White, chartreuse, bubble-gum, and orange twister grubs are preferred in muddy conditions. Black, green, and salt/pepper jigs will also work in clear water. Plastic body shad baits and bucktail jigs also can be worked along rip-rap next to the shore. Use a slow retrieve keeping jig bumping across the bottom. |
Try trolling or casting on deep gravel bars, scour holes and drop-offs adjacent to heads of islands and confluences. Cast jigging spoons and blade baits into steep drop-offs next to these habitats. Use deep diving minnow and shad crank baits when trolling. |
Try trolling or casting on deep gravel bars, scour holes and drop-offs adjacent to heads of islands and confluences. Cast jigging spoons and blade baits into steep drop-offs next to these habitats. Use deep diving minnow and shad crank baits when trolling.
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Bottom bouncing weights or pencil weights (1/4 – 1/2 ounce) can be used below jigs (jig and hook only) to keep them just off the bottom. Use a three-way swivel and attach a 6-12 inch section of line from the swivel to the jig. This will keep the jig close to the bottom yet reduce snagging on rip-rap. This set-up will help keep your jig down in strong current.
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Use 1/8 to 1/2 ounce lead head jigs with 3-inch twister body. Add “stinger hooks” to help catch sluggish or “short striking” fish. Jigs can also be tipped with minnows. Adjust jig weight according to current strength. Jig should be heavy enough to stay in contact with bottom during retrieve in strong current. Make casts quartering upstream across current.
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Location
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Confluences, tailwaters, tributaries, shallow water and close to woody cover and large rock. During spawning, sauger use and concentrate on sand and gravel bars directly downstream of locks and dams. Fish instream structure such as woody debris and rocks that provide current breaks. |
Deep water far away from shore. Deep water on outside bends and near confluences. |
Deep water downstream of tailwaters. Lower portion of Ohio River pools. Deep water in larger tributaries of the Ohio River. Drop-offs and deep holes at confluences, islands and outside bends of the river.
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Shallow water at confluences and tributaries near woody cover. Tailwaters of Ohio River locks and dams. Fish gravel bars at head and toe of Ohio RiverIslands.
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Fish confluences, tailwaters, tributaries, shallow water and close to woody cover and large rock or rip rap. Slack water and eddies on the lock side of the dam hold good numbers of fish at high flow. Fish shallow along the shore in the protected area immediately downstream of the lock. |
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