Sauger time in Tn.

Sauger time is just about here. With the falling water temps. They will start feeding heavy to get ready for the spawn. And man do I love it.
But need to figure out to catch more of the Walleye that we have. But no one fishes for here.
The only walleye we catch here is mixed in with the sauger.

Been doing some reading. And when the smaller sauger here on the Tn river below Pickwick Dam. Are in the 40 to 50ft deep water and hanging in with the current. I catch my better sauger along the lip of the drop and much shallow water then the smaller one.
So wondering if the walleye would also be feeding around the same places as the bigger sauger? Like 20 ft when the smaller sauger are in 40ft and behind structure not in the current like the smaller one's.
Also plan on using smaller jigs this year. Here is a standard Sauger jig 1 1/4 oz.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...erjijgs001.jpg
Getting ready to try some smaller jigs. Like 3/8 up. and see what I can do with them. I think the smaller jigs should do better when the current will allow me to fish them.
Any help or ideals on the Walleye would sure help me thanks.
Pete

how far south do you catch the walleye. I'm from alabama and i don't think we have any jsut wondering if they make it this far south. wonder if they are any in guntersville on the tn.

Would say there should be some there. As there all along the Tn river. And they catch them below Nickajack dam.
I would fish below the dam and try it. But bet you can catch them above it also. As we catch them here above the dam around the lock walls.
They tagged some at Ky Dam years ago. And the tracked them through the dam at Pickwick ( Through the locks) and on up the lake. Last I heard they were at Nickajack. That is a long trip. but they do move a lot.

Pete

thanks for the info it's about a 2 hour drive for me to guntersville but i think i'll make the trip when i get home next week.

Shilo, try using blade baits for those eyes and saugers. They are the best cold water baits we have up north. Silver buddy's or sonars by heddon in silver/blue or gold.

Hi,

I never tried Sauger or Walleye fishing and was wondering if there are any fishing for them on Cherokee Lake? From what I have seen seems like the sauger prefer the tailwaters by the dam. Any suggestions on how to catch them if you can in the lake. Thanks, James

They do catch them here at Pickwick above the dam. But still fishing the dam.
You could try that there. Just fish tight line above the dam. Most bites I get for sauger is on the bottom.
So I fish straight below the boat along the dam.
Pete

picking a few up in Douglas lake

I do some sauger fishing in Guntersville on the TN River. Just wondering is there an obvious noticable difference between a sauger and a walleye? Just wondering if it were possible to have caught a walleye and thought is was a sauger?
Thanks

"Silver buddy's or sonars by heddon in silver/blue or gold."

Do you vertical fish these blades on the bottom like you would a jig?

Sethook the sauger does not have the dot on the tail. And also has a black saddle around them.
Here is a picture of a sauger below. but if it looks like the one below and still has the white spot on the tail. Its a saueye.
Yes you jig them down on bottom. Sauger feed on bottom most of the time. I use a sauger jig more then anything.

Pete
Sauger jig 3/4 oz to 1 1/4 oz. I Tie my own.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...erjijgs002.jpg
Sauger
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Saugernctc.jpg
Saugeye
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/fish/saugeye.jpg

I'm a little confused. Is a Saugeye the same as a Walleye?

a saugeye is a cross between a sauger and a walleye. it has to be the male of one and the female of the other but I don't remember which one is which.

Hey Pete,

You think I could order some of them jigs from you? I can pay U.S. currency, beer, duck, deer, crappie filets, etc.......

How about 10 chart. and 10 blue head, white hair.

Maybe we could hook up and fish Smithland and I could save on the cost of delivery.

How about it?

Went today and fished for a few hours with not much luck. The first line drop my son caught a 8lb drum. The total for the day was 2 drums, 16 stripe and 1 sauger. I caught the one sauger (18") about 10 minutes before we had to leave. It was in 50' of water. I did bring her home and filleted her. A lot of meat for 1 fish. Should smell the skillet up anyway.

Tried it again today with only stripe and drum. Guess it's just not cold enough yet.