A Fish For The Future Or Soon To Be One Of The Past?

I believe the future will hold a combination of all three possibilities. Saugeye will continue to be stocked in states where they’re popular but maybe in fewer lakes. If triploid culture methods are reliable and cost effective, they will be used in more sensitive areas. Finally, walleyes are sure to return to some lakes if the higher stocking rates of healthy fingerlings are successful.

Location

Ice-out is my favorite time of year to fish for saugeye. The fish are staged in predictable locations and the biggest females are easily caught. Unless unusually early rains have resulted in high muddy water flowing out of the reservoir, most of the action will be along the riprap above the dam and on major points and deep flats in the lake basin closest to the dam. Tailwater action below the dam will increase later with increased water flows and turbidity.

Saugeye and low-light conditions coincide, whether they’re wave-induced mudlines along shoreline points, turbid conditions due to heavy rains, or the dark of night. Anglers have an advantage from ice-out until spawning at the end of March or early April as water warms from 40°F to 50°F.

Saugeye holding near dams become active at night, roving rocky points and riprap areas along causeways and dams in 1 to 15 feet of water. Daytime location depends on weather and water conditions. Clear water (visibility over 10 feet) keeps fish deep and presentations tough. The saugeye at my favorite reservoir last March were between 45 and 60 feet deep. On good days, fish grouped at the base of shoreline points at 32 feet. In years past, when the water was more turbid, saugeyes held from 26 to 32 feet deep on slow days, and as shallow as 15 to 25 feet on active days.

When spring rains increase water flows and turbidity in the tailwaters, saugeye fishing is at its peak, and anglers began making great catches, breaking state records below the dam forming Deer Creek Lake. Saugeye collect in high numbers at this time of year.

Location changes in small tailwater pools, depending on water flows. Fish hold tight to seams and breaks in current where water is slack. This helps them conserve energy as they gorge on small gizzard shad being flushed through the dam. Look for breaks in the current behind dam baffles, bridge abutments, along concrete walls and sidewalks, and in depressions in the stream bottom.

When the water reaches high flood stages, saugeye may move into flooded timber downstream from the dam, but I don’t recommend trying to fish under these dangerous conditions. If dams are located upstream, check tailwaters.

In presummer, saugeye are found on main-lake points, especially bigger points that reach all the way to the channel. In clear lakes, deep weedbeds or flooded wood hold saugeye shallow. Saugeye also are attracted to current along a narrow causeway opening or flowing tributary. Also, water release at the dam increases saugeye action at the dam and in current areas. In clear water, night fishing may still offer the best opportunity for shallow active eyes. Presummer also is the time to check more remote structure, like submerged islands on flats, sunken roadbeds, and woody or weedy shorelines in bays.