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Sauger/Saugeye

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I head to NW Ohio for White Bass, I got a couple spots up that way that produce very well for me. I wouldn't call the saugeye fishing good either, I've never caught any big enough worth cleaning. Still fun though.
 

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
I head to NW Ohio for White Bass, I got a couple spots up that way that produce very well for me. I wouldn't call the saugeye fishing good either, I've never caught any big enough worth cleaning. Still fun though.

The run in both Paint and Rattlesnake is pretty darn good for white bass in April and May. Not many fish for them as access to the creeks is not nearly as easy as other impoundments nearby. It is a good way to spend a few spring afternoons though. Saugeyes don't seem to do as well in Paint as they do Rocky Fork. They tend to go through the tube pretty quick at Paint, resulting in a constant flow of little ones below the dam as I'm sure you've seen. People keep a lot of those little guys too...they are about the size of an average perch.
 

blackhandbeagles

Junior Member
28
31
So far I haven't kept the little ones but my neighbor says there is quite a bit of meat on the backs and they make great fish sticks.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Maybe we'll have to hook up Brock. I have never kept any of those little guys. As the way I read the regs, theres a 15" min on them anyways. Is that right? I caught a one last year that was probably 16-17" but didn't keep it because it was the biggest I'd ever seen come out of that area and she was full of eggs.
 

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
It is 15" in the lake. Once they go through the dam, they are legal. I dont keep them either, rarely fish down there. I do fish for the larger version in Rocky a good bit.
 

Redhunter1012

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Maybe we'll have to hook up Brock. I have never kept any of those little guys. As the way I read the regs, theres a 15" min on them anyways. Is that right? I caught a one last year that was probably 16-17" but didn't keep it because it was the biggest I'd ever seen come out of that area and she was full of eggs.
If it was a female Saugeye, eggs or not, they don't reproduce, as they are sterile.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I originally was telling people it was a Walleye. I was told that they didn't have any Walleye in that body of water. Could of just been fat I guess, not like I opened it up or tried to milk it. Growing up in NW Ohio fishing the spring runs, I just figured it was full of eggs. I'm not 100% sure of the difference between walleye/sauger/saugeye to be honest?
 

yotehunter

Member
1,527
36
spencerville oh
I originally was telling people it was a Walleye. I was told that they didn't have any Walleye in that body of water. Could of just been fat I guess, not like I opened it up or tried to milk it. Growing up in NW Ohio fishing the spring runs, I just figured it was full of eggs. I'm not 100% sure of the difference between walleye/sauger/saugeye to be honest?
Saugeye are crossed by DNR. They are crossed with walleye and sauger and are sterile. They are more aggressive then a walleye and are a heartier fish. 15 inch limit is on certain bodies of water. I wish it was a 15 inch limit statewide. But the state claims its because they are a put and take kind of fish. They stock them so people can catch them no matter what size. IMO I would rather catch and eat a saugeye of 18 to 22 inches then a walleye. Their meat stays a lot firmer then a walleye. Don't get me wronge both are damn tasty.
 

Redhunter1012

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Saugeye are crossed by DNR. They are crossed with walleye and sauger and are sterile. They are more aggressive then a walleye and are a heartier fish. 15 inch limit is on certain bodies of water. I wish it was a 15 inch limit statewide. But the state claims its because they are a put and take kind of fish. They stock them so people can catch them no matter what size. IMO I would rather catch and eat a saugeye of 18 to 22 inches then a walleye. Their meat stays a lot firmer then a walleye. Don't get me wronge both are damn tasty.

I agree with you. About the time the run ends on the Maumee is when a few of my local spots heat up for saugeye. Most I get from shore, a few I have to get the boat out. But meat is firmer and a little cleaner IMO
 

yotehunter

Member
1,527
36
spencerville oh
I agree with you. About the time the run ends on the Maumee is when a few of my local spots heat up for saugeye. Most I get from shore, a few I have to get the boat out. But meat is firmer and a little cleaner IMO
Findlay used to have damn good walleye fishing. Did they start putting saugeye in there? Or is it still walleye?
 

blackhandbeagles

Junior Member
28
31
I went down below Dillon dam last night. Suager aren't there yet. On a side note, they are releasing a bunch of water. These guys caught about 50 lbs of shad in about thirty minutes in a cast net.
 

yotehunter

Member
1,527
36
spencerville oh
No it is still walleye. I wish they would switch to Saugeye, as the Walleye don't reproduce worth a damn in there. Last year there were a ton of 13-14 inchers in there that should be nice eaters today.

I know what you mean. I live two minutes from Bresslers and its the same way lots of 13 and 14 inches but they never seem too get much bigger. Its also a walleye only. It would be a amazing place for the saugeye. But they won't switch it over. "They natural reproduce" so they say. I wished they would put a fifteen or 16 inch limit statewide on both species.