Saugeye is a hybrid mixing Sauger with a Walleye. When I was a kid in Pittsburgh, we use to fish the Youghiogheny River which runs through southwestern Pennsylvania and Maryland. It meets the Monongahela and eventually joins the Ohio at the Point in downtown Pittsburgh, right next to the old Three Rivers Stadium.

Sauger are small. They tend to live more in creeks and small lakes. Walleye are more of a large water species, although you can catch them in creeks during the spawn. I've been in Arkansas for 20 years, and don't get home to fish, but I haven't heard anyting about Saugers in a long time. Not sure they're still there.

Any of these species eats really good. Crappie is hard to beat, but the saugers, walleyes, and saugeye are outstanding.

They all are bottom dwellers. Drag a stand-up jig head with a minnow or worm across the bottom outside of the spawn. During the spawn, a minnow-shaped crankbait, a worm harness, or minnow snelled 12-18" above a weight will work.


Work them hard early and late or on a cloudy day with some wind. The "eye" part of the name is there because they have big eyes that face up, and they don't take well to light.