Saugeye action heating up

One of the best tasting fish found in our waters can be caught right now in many of our local lakes. Some say saugeye tastes even better than crappie! I’ll let you be the judge of that, but if you want to get in on some great fishing action take these saugeye tips.

I caught up with SW Fisheries Supervisor Ryan Ryswyk and he filled me in on the biology of this lesser known sport fish.

“I get asked all time where to fish and what fish are biting,” said Ryswyk. “Right now, is the time without hesitation I tell everyone they need to be fishing for saugeye.”

Mid may through Mid-June is probably the best time of year to fish. The water in our lakes has warmed, and many species of fish are actively feeding, especially saugeye.

What is a saugeye you ask?

“Saugeye are easily confused for a walleye which makes sense as they are a hatchery produced hybrid between a walleye and a sauger, added Ryswyk. “Sauger are native to rivers and streams in NE Oklahoma whereas walleye are not native to Oklahoma. This hybrid is a perfect compromise between the larger size of walleye but also has ability to tolerate warmer water like the sauger.”

This combination allows them to thrive in the muddy and warm water of SW Oklahoma.

Saugeye primarily eat shad but at times also eat sunfish, freshwater drum, crappie, silver sides, other minnow species, crayfish, and invertebrates. This time of year, many species of bait fish are moving into shallow water. As with many predatory species, if can you find the bait fish you can find the predators. This makes catching saugeye easier this time of year.

Ryswyk says to target water depths of 3-10 feet, concentrating on main lake points, submerged humps, drop offs, or any other changes in the lakebed topography. Saugeye typically stay close to the bottom use these subtle depth changes to ambush prey. If you can catch a few saugeye at a particular depth in one location, the chances are you can fish at the same depth at other locations in the lake.

What baits should I use?

“One great thing about saugeye is they can be caught on a variety of baits and lures,” added Ryswyk. “One of the simplest ways to catch them is by hooking a live minnow about 12 inches below a weight. Cast this out and let it sit on the bottom. This can be done from the bank or from a boat.”

Another great option is a 3-inch curly tail grub with a ¼ to ½ ounce jig head depending on the depth you want to fish. I always start with a white or pearl color to imitate a shad (the saug’s favorite food). But don’t be afraid to try other colors as well. Chartreuse, orange, grey, or even pink can do the trick as well.

“Many saugeye in SW Oklahoma are caught while trolling with crankbaits. Whichever method you use, just be sure to get your bait as close to the bottom as you can where saugeye are spending most of their time. I often tell people that if you aren’t getting hung up on the bottom, you aren’t fishing correctly.”

What lakes are best?

Saugeye are produced at ODWC hatcheries and stocked at various locations around the state. Lakes that are stocked regularly in SW Oklahoma area include: Lawtonka, Ellsworth, Tom Steed, Waurika, Fort Cobb, Elk City, Clinton, Taylor, and Duncan Lake.

“In my mind, saugeye are one of the ultimate sportfish. They can grow to a relatively large size and can be caught on a variety of baits and lures. In fact, the state record is currently from Fort Cobb Lake at 10 pounds.” Said Ryswyk.

He suggests using lighter weight line to feel subtle bites. So, when you hook into a 4 or 5-pound saugeye there is no guarantee it’s going to make it in the boat. When they give you those head shakes and start pulling drag you are in for a challenge. A mouth full of sharp teeth can cut your line at any moment, so you better be on your game fighting them back to the boat. On top of that, they are fantastic table fair. They are just as good to eat as a crappie, but you get so much more meat from a saugeye than you do a crappie.