Struck out

So today I attempted sauger fishing for the first time. 15 degrees when I got to the river.. made for a very cold day. Fished for about 4 hours then came home for lunch. Went back out for the last hour until dark. Fished 4 different spots on the Ohio and big Sandy rivers never caught a fish. I think I had 1 bite… atleast I’m telling myself if was a bite. Over all a very discouraging day but still great to get outside. Going to try below the Greenup dam tomorrow. I seem to always have success there. Maybe tomorrow will be the day I catch my first sauger. I’ll keep y’all posted


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Curious what type of rig/bait are you using for them ? If you aren't already, you may try a Texas rigged floating jig head tipped with a minnow or creek chub. I have better luck with the chub minnows & the larger ones at that. It's amazing how big of a bait those sauger can inhale. I'm a regular at Meldahl thru the winter. Tough bite now down there now. I fished yesterday and had 2 others just down from me and never saw a fish caught in over 4 hours. :dono

But at least the sun was shining & I was fishing. :biggrin

I went to the Greenup dam on Sunday and tried a variety of baits. Started up by the wall right next to the dam. Used a curly tail on a 1/2 oz jig head bouncing the bottom. Also tried a swim bait, rooster tail, and jigging spoon. No luck there so I moved down the walk way… eventually walked almost 200 yards down stream. Fished about 4 hours and never got bit. Decided to go back and try the wall before i left. Was dragging the curly tail along the bottom and snagged another line. On the end of that line was a nice weighted spoon. On the other end was a like new rod and reel! Rod was a cheap Berkeley casting rod with bad reviews. The reel is a very nice dawia bait caster! And it’s even left handed the way the way I like. It’s in almost perfect condition. Still on the quest for my first sauger, but finished the day with a nice new set up


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Carolina rig you a shiner or even just a big split shot 8-12" above hook.

Please keep making sauger posts! I've been dabbling with it too below Smithland, but I just haven't seemed to hit it just right yet - 14 ft to 19 ft is supposed to be the preferred river elevation on the Smithland gauge but it seems it pretty well stays blown out all of February! I had high hopes for this coming weekend (Feb 19/20) with the river forecast falling back down to the right level, but it appears a big rain Thursday is going to make it jump right back up again....D'OH! I've had good success on sauger on KY Lake during the summer trolling cranks and bouncing the 7/8 oz War Eagle spoons on the bottom, but have yet to hit the winter migration/spawn in February below the dams, would love to hear more from those who have found success in Feb.

Please keep the sauger posts going, especially with what works for you and what depth. I keep trying those big 1 oz jigs with treble stinger and a 4" shiner, but it hasn't hit yet for me, I need to try those VMC Hard Ball jigheads sometime with the Big Bite 4" Slim Minnow, what jigs and plastics have you been trying? What line size, I think 10 lb is the max you can use with those eyes they have.

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Originally Posted by artcarney_agr

Please keep making sauger posts! I've been dabbling with it too below Smithland, but I just haven't seemed to hit it just right yet - 14 ft to 19 ft is supposed to be the preferred river elevation on the Smithland gauge but it seems it pretty well stays blown out all of February! I had high hopes for this coming weekend (Feb 19/20) with the river forecast falling back down to the right level, but it appears a big rain Thursday is going to make it jump right back up again....D'OH! I've had good success on sauger on KY Lake during the summer trolling cranks and bouncing the 7/8 oz War Eagle spoons on the bottom, but have yet to hit the winter migration/spawn in February below the dams, would love to hear more from those who have found success in Feb.

Please keep the sauger posts going, especially with what works for you and what depth. I keep trying those big 1 oz jigs with treble stinger and a 4" shiner, but it hasn't hit yet for me, I need to try those VMC Hard Ball jigheads sometime with the Big Bite 4" Slim Minnow, what jigs and plastics have you been trying? What line size, I think 10 lb is the max you can use with those eyes they have.

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I tried it below Meldahl dam again on the 11th as it was a warmer day but never had a bite in 3 hours. It's been a tough 2022 for me & the sauger. River was rolling (Too much current that day)with the dam wide open & debris on the line ended the afternoon earlier than I wanted. Swift dirty water was keeping me busy cleaning lines/rigs until it became too much with no reward. I've been fishing there from the bank afternoon/evenings this time of year for years. Using Spinning rod/reels rigged 20lb. braid & a 2ft. 12lb. mono leader, Carolina rigged with a bead, swivel, 3/4 or 1oz. egg sinker & 2 floating jig heads. I've had better luck with the large size Erie Dearie floating jig head on the end & a dropper style above it. Pink/White ED with a big chub & a large minnow on the dropper was a go to last Fall. Overall 2020 was a much better season than 2021 below Meldahl although I did catch several PB fish there this year. If I'm in my boat I'm bumping bottom with whatever size jig head it takes to stay in contact with the bottom. I used to fish the creek mouths in the winter a lot more than I do now. Fishing from the bank along this gravel bar/beach below the dam has become a personal favorite now. Just a easy style of fishing watching those rod tips. Bite is almost always best right at that magic hour before & after dusk.

Attachment 419079

This was all I could catch last time. Sorry for the pic but it shows the style of fishing & the rig anyhow. Maybe a mod can straighten the pic.

Attachment 419075

Caught this 25" beauty on Dc. 27th in the same spot. I've caught bigger Walleye up North but this was my PB out of the river.

Put it back for someone else to catch. My buddy just looked at me like I was crazy. I told him that was too nice of a fish to fillet. The smaller 14-15in sauger/walleye are the best to eat IMHO.

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Originally Posted by kycreek

I tried it below Meldahl dam again on the 11th as it was a warmer day but never had a bite in 3 hours. It's been a tough 2022 for me & the sauger. River was rolling (Too much current that day)with the dam wide open & debris on the line ended the afternoon earlier than I wanted. Swift dirty water was keeping me busy cleaning lines/rigs until it became too much with no reward. I've been fishing there from the bank afternoon/evenings this time of year for years. Using Spinning rod/reels rigged 20lb. braid & a 2ft. 12lb. mono leader, Carolina rigged with a bead, swivel, 3/4 or 1oz. egg sinker & 2 floating jig heads. I've had better luck with the large size Erie Dearie floating jig head on the end & a dropper style above it. Pink/White ED with a big chub & a large minnow on the dropper was a go to last Fall. Overall 2020 was a much better season than 2021 below Meldahl although I did catch several PB fish there this year. If I'm in my boat I'm bumping bottom with whatever size jig head it takes to stay in contact with the bottom. I used to fish the creek mouths in the winter a lot more than I do now. Fishing from the bank along this gravel bar/beach below the dam has become a personal favorite now. Just a easy style of fishing watching those rod tips. Bite is almost always best right at that magic hour before & after dusk.

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Excellent info! Thank you!

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Originally Posted by kycreek

Attachment 419075

Caught this 25" beauty on Dc. 27th in the same spot. I've caught bigger Walleye up North but this was my PB out of the river.

Put it back for someone else to catch. My buddy just looked at me like I was crazy. I told him that was too nice of a fish to fillet. The smaller 14-15in sauger/walleye are the best to eat IMHO.

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That’s a beauty, congrats

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kycreek

Attachment 419075

Caught this 25" beauty on Dc. 27th in the same spot. I've caught bigger Walleye up North but this was my PB out of the river.

Put it back for someone else to catch. My buddy just looked at me like I was crazy. I told him that was too nice of a fish to fillet. The smaller 14-15in sauger/walleye are the best to eat IMHO.

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Very nice fish!


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Way to hang! Great post and great fish.

Great fish
Thanks for sharing.


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