« Fish Identification
Sauger

Scientific name:

Stizostedion Canadense

Identification:

Dorsal region of head and back brown to gray; sides paler, ventral region of head and belly white. Sides and back variously speckled with dusky spots; 4 dark saddles across back, some of which expand horizontally on sides. Eyes silvery in life; a well-de-veloped reflecting layer (tapetum lucidum) causes glowing in dark. Membranes on the spiny dorsal fin with definite horizontal rows of spots, and last few membranes not solid black; second dorsal and caudal fins with dark spots in regular rows; ventral lobe of caudal fin sometimes white edged. Pectoral fins lightly speckled, and with a strong, black blotch at base; pelvic and anal fins clear to lightly speckled.

Distribution:

In Wisconsin, the sauger occurs in both the Lake Michigan and Mississippi River drainage basins, but not in Wisconsin waters of the Lake Superior drain- age.

Spawning:

Angling: