After having fished Minnesota lakes for many years I recently started fishing the Mississippi at Red Wing. Lately, I've been catching nice size ( 20+ in. ) Sauger. I've several others mention that they are catching Saugeye and I was wondering how you visually tell the difference.
Wauger-eye
03-18-2000, 12:37 PM
I will try to detail some characteristics of each of the 3 fish (walleye, sauger, and saugeye)and from these you will be able to tell which critter you've got in the boat!
Walleye:
-Dark blotches usually absent below lateral line.
-Dark spot at rear base of spiny dorsal fin
-Spiny dorsal fin with indistinct streaks or blotches
-white tip on lower lobe of tail
-cheeks with few scales (smooth)
Sauger:
-dark blotches extending below lateral line
-no dark spot at rear base of spiny dorsal fin
-spiny dorsal with distinct spots
-little white above lower edge of tail
-cheeks with scales (rough)
Saugeye:
-dark blotches extending below lateral line
-indistinct dark spot at rear base of spiny dorsal fin
-spiny dorsal fin with distinct streaks or blotches, often with one or two rows of distinct spots at base
-white extending above lower edge of tail to lower lobe
-cheeks with scales (rough)
In short, check for cheek scales, amount of white on tail fin, and patterns of streaks, blotches, or spots within the dorsal fin and compare with above descriptions to find your fish!!!
Hope this helps......
Thanks for the info WAUGER-EYE. I'll give it a try next chance I get out.