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Sauger

Sauger

Sauger are native to Tennessee's Mississippi River drainage and historically supported important sport fisheries in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.

These cool-water fish are closely related to walleye but prefer more turbid, flowing water and are smaller in size, rarely exceeding 4 pounds.

Scientific Name: Sander canadensis

Physical Characteristics:
  • Sauger have elongated, cylindrical bodies with brown or brassy coloration marked by dark blotches and distinctive black spots on their spiny dorsal fin.
  • They possess large eyes adapted for low-light conditions and mouths full of sharp teeth.
  • Smaller in size, rarely exceeding 4 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native to Tennessee's Mississippi River drainage.
  • Prefer more turbid, flowing water.
  • They're highly migratory, traveling hundreds of miles between feeding and spawning areas.

Key Locations

  • Prime Tennessee sauger waters include Kentucky Lake, Old Hickory Reservoir, Cordell Hull Lake, Watts Bar, Pickwick Lake, Fort Loudoun, Cherokee Lake, Melton Hill, the Cumberland River system, and Tennessee River tailwaters.
  • Prime locations include Old Hickory Reservoir from Hunter's Point to Cordell Hull Dam, below Pickwick Dam to Diamond Island, Cumberland River tailwaters, and mouths of tributary creeks like Little Cedar Creek, Second Creek, and Jennings Fork Creek.

Specific Spots

  • Target eddy areas between generator walls and spill gates, around lock walls, and current breaks.
  • Sauger stay close to bottom.
  • They move upstream to rocky substrates in rivers and tailwaters for spawning.

Sauger FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Sauger in Tennessee?

Heavy hair jigs (3/4 to 1.5 ounces), tip jigs with live minnows and add stinger hooks for short strikers. Bright colors work best: fluorescent yellow, gold, pink, chartreuse, and white. For tailwater fishing, use 1-2 ounce jigs depending on current strength. Live minnows on #4 to 1/0 hooks.

When is the best time to fish for Sauger in Tennessee?

Winter through early spring (January-March) provides the best sauger fishing. They spawn in spring (March-May) when water temperatures reach 60°F - avoid targeting them during this critical reproductive period.

How do you catch Sauger in Tennessee?

Vertical jigging is the most effective technique - bounce jigs off bottom or hold them horizontally 4-5 inches off bottom with subtle twitching motions. Other productive techniques include Carolina rigs with live minnows, slip sinker rigs, and three-way swivel setups.

What do Sauger eat?

Sauger are opportunistic predators, feeding primarily on threadfin shad, gizzard shad, and other small fish. In winter when threadfin shad become cold-stressed and vulnerable, they comprise nearly 100% of sauger diets.

Where do Sauger live in Tennessee?

Native to Tennessee's Mississippi River drainage. Prefer more turbid, flowing water. They're highly migratory, traveling hundreds of miles between feeding and spawning areas.

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