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General Information: Saugeye are a hatchery-produced hybrid made from a cross between a female walleye and a male sauger that are particularly well suited for Ohio reservoirs. Each year, the Division of Wildlife stocks more than 7 million saugeye in over 70 reservoirs. Saugeye grow rapidly in Ohio reservoirs and most fish caught by anglers are 12-18 inches.
State Record: 14.04 pounds, 30 1/8 inches, Antrim Lake
Roger Sizemore, Orient, Ohio
November 24, 2004
Fish Ohio Length: 21 inches
Tips:
- Although saugeye are a cross between walleye and sauger, they often behave differently than walleye, so methods can vary. Saugeye are not likely to suspend off the bottom, unlike walleye, so present lures close to the bottom.
- Consider water color when determining how deep to fish. In clear water fish deeper, and in darker or muddy water, fish shallower. It is not uncommon to catch saugeye in less than six to eight feet of water. It’s never too muddy for a saugeye, but in dark-water conditions, try black jigs and twister tails.
- Checking good overhead cover in shallow lakes may be important, too. Saugeye have even been known to hide under brush or lily pads like bass.
- From “ice-out” until water temperature reaches about 55-degrees, try a stop-go method when casting and retrieving crankbaits and don’t be surprised if saugeye inhale the lure on the pause.
Tackle: Medium spinning tackle with 6-8 pound test line for fishing jigs and baitcasting tackle with 10-12 pound test line for fishing crankbaits. Minimize the use terminal tackle.
Regulations: see fishing digest for a variety of regulations throughout the state
Where to go:
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Central
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Northwest
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Northeast
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Southwest
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Southeast
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Lake LeComte
Paulding Reservoir
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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 |
Excellent |
Fair |
Good |
Variable |
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Presentation
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Jigs tipped with minnows. |
In late May switch to nitecrawlers on jigs or troll crawler harnesses or “mayfly rigs” tipped with a piece of nitecrawler, troll crankbaits on rip-rap & shallow bars at night or cast small (1”to 3” -long) shad imitating crankbaits. |
Troll or cast larger crankbaits (3”-6”) and use crawler harnesses and jigs tipped with worms.
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Cast Rat-L-Trap style lures, diving crankbaits, and jigs with minnows. |
Jigs tipped with minnows, minnows below bobbers or with tip-ups, blade baits & Rat-L-Traps style lures. |
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Location
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Below dams
(especially high “flow-through” lakes) the rip-rap on dams and causeways in lakes, large structures (bars, points, underwater roadbeds, etc.) that reach all the way to the old stream channel in a lake.
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Some fish use the same locations as spring; however, fish are scattered using all available structure, especially if it has cover like weedbeds, stumpfields or downed trees. |
Most lakes are now stratified and fish are forced to remain above the warm/coldwater interface (thermocline) so they can obtain enough oxygen from the water. |
Fish can move extremely shallow at sunset & sunrise, so try rip-rap areas and large points with a gravel silt make-up. |
Below dams and on shallow bars (points & reefs) at twilight in reservoirs w/o ice or in nearby deep water during the day. |
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