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

Summer is probably the toughest time for most saugeye anglers. Newly hatched gizzard shad are everywhere, and so are pleasure boaters. Fishing can become spotty, and most of the active fish caught are small. I confess I’m mostly a muskie fisherman at this time of year, but muskie fishing has offered valuable clues to catching large active fish at this time of year. In fact, the hotter the summer, the better and more predictable this pattern becomes.

Cast and troll large shad-imitating crankbaits off the ends of bars that touch the old river channel and troll for suspended fish above the thermocline out over the old river channel. Once you leave the cover associated with bars, active suspended saugeye will be associated with clouds of forage fish, like young gizzard shad.

In fall, saugeye resume holding tight to classic structure again, more evenly spread throughout the lake. Concentrate on areas where huge schools of gizzard shad form. If summer has been cool, much of this concentration still may be in the upper end of the lake. Late season fishing also can pick up on shallow riprap shorelines at night. Near-freezing conditions require dependable equipment. Dress in windproof and waterproof clothing and always fish with a partner.

I tend to ice fish near the same areas I fish soon after ice-out. I concentrate on deep breaks near the channel and 10- to 15-foot-deep tops of structure nearby. When fish become active, usually the last hour of daylight, these shallow areas can produce some fast action. In darker water, active fish move shallower.

Presentation

If I were to choose one presentation for year-round saugeye fishing, it would be a jig. Except for possibly a short time in summer, saugeye are bottom huggers. The most important part of any presentation is to keep in constant contact with the bottom. Using a heavy jig that stays on bottom and keeps your presentation near vertical when fishing out of a boat is more important than trying to use a small subtle jig.

Thin superlines like 6-pound-test FireLine are ideal for deep-water jigging. Their lack of water resistance makes it easier to keep jigs in contact with the bottom and also to feel subtle bites. A plastic grub body and minnow is the preferred dressing for a jig. Many fishermen prefer scented grub bodies, but with a minnow combination, you should do fine without it. Hot colors like fluorescent orange, chartreuse, and pink are popular. In clear water, try subtle colors—white, red, or clear with flakes.

From the end of May until late season, tipping jigs with nightcrawlers instead of minnows becomes more effective. Jigs can be dragged on bottom, fished with a slow lift-drop to feel for the extra weight of a fish, or with short hops. Again, be sure the jig remains in contact with the bottom.

I prefer to use my transom trolling motor to position over the fish and keep my line near vertical. When the action picks up and the fish scatter, controlled drifting works well. Windsocks are becoming popular to slow your drift on windy days. When you locate fish, triangulate your position with shore references, because saugeye hold in tight schools during the day. Using floating markers is an excellent way to learn a new spot and how saugeye are relating to it.