Sauger (Sander canadensis)

The Sauger or Sander canadensis is a freshwater fish that has a lot of the same characteristics as its close relative the Walleye. Both are quite edible, and are even thought to be one of the best tasting freshwater fish in the world. You can differentiate from Sauger and Walleye by their coloration, Sauger are much darker and they have dark spots on their bodies and dorsal fin. The Sauger also has a rough skin that covers their gills, unlike the Walleye. Saugers are smaller than Walleye as well, only growing to 8.1 kg (17 lbs, 12 ounces.) Saugers and Walleye have even been bred to create what is known as the Saugeyes.
If you are fishing for Saugers you will normally find them in rivers and streams. These fish are found strictly in North American in places like, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Quebec, and Alberta to name a few. Saugers will normally spawn in between March and June depending on temperature and water conditions. Spawning occurs in 2 to 8 feet of water. The female Sauger will lay up to 40,000 eggs for each pound of its body! The young Sauger fry will hatch in 4 weeks or less and begin to feed on zooplankton and insect larvae. After they grow older they will begin to eat small fish, leeches and crayfish. Muskie and large Pike will sometime dine on Sauger.  Some other names for Sauger include Sand Pike River Pike, Gray Pike, Gray Pickerel, and Spotfin Pike.  You can learn a little more about the Sauger in the video below.


If you have any Sauger recipes or fishing tips please leave them below in the comments...