How can you tell a walleye from a saugeye?

Asked by: Tim Gibson

To identify them, first look at the spiny dorsal fin. The walleye will have no spots on this fin; the sauger will have distinct spots; and the hybrid of the two species, the saugeye, will have spots and bars in the webbing of its spiny dorsal fin.

How do you tell the difference between a saugeye and a sauger?

Saugeye outgrow sauger by several inches and pounds. While both fish will have dark blotches on their bodies, sauger are generally darker and more tanned than saugeye. Saugeye will also have a white tail patch, which sauger lack completely.

What tastes better sauger or walleye?

Saugers taste incredible. The firm white meat of a sauger is sought after. Some locals will tell you they like the sauger’s taste better than the walleye’s, as they believe the meat is a bit sweeter.

What’s the best bait to catch saugeye?

minnows

Like their parent species, Saugeyes can be taken with light spinning and bait casting tackle using spinners, spoons, or live bait like minnows or night crawlers. These fish can often be caught at night and are considered to be excellent table fare.

How old is a 28 inch walleye?

How Old Is A 28 Inch Walleye?

Does saugeye taste like walleye?

Sauger are closely related to walleye and very similar in taste. They look very similar but are generally smaller. In both size and taste sauger are “in between” walleye and yellow perch.

What’s the difference between a walleye saugeye and a sauger?

The sauger is native to large rivers like the Kansas and Missouri. Both sauger and saugeye are better adapted to high flow and turbid water than the walley; saugeye establish fishable populations below impoundments when flushed.

What’s considered a trophy walleye?

Honestly, an 8-pound walleye for most folks is a trophy walleye. If you don’t fish 100 days or more each year for walleyes, then the chances of catching a 10-pound walleye are slim. I know some folks who may tell you that they’ve caught 20-30, 10-pound-plus walleyes in their fishing careers.

What is the biggest walleye ever caught?

25 pounds

The largest walleye ever taken weighed 25 pounds and was caught in 1960 on Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee, according to the International Game Fish Association.

How long is a 2 pound walleye?

2 lbs. The males will be slightly bigger and will continue to be for several years. 2 – Generally, the walleye will be at about 20cm (8”) in its second year of life. It will weigh slightly less than half a pound.

What state eats the most walleye?

1. Minnesota. All other claimants can stand down. No state has more lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs stuffed with walleyes than Minnesota.

How rare is a 30 inch walleye?

I’d say 30 inch walleyes are far more rare. We landed anywhere between 30-40 walleyes within my guide service in a year over the 28 inch benchmark, but usually only a handful actually make 30 inches. That is on prime water, prime spots…. ALL THE TIME.

What is a good size walleye?

A good walleye is under 3 lbs, or over 10 lbs. The smaller ones are for eating, the larger for hanging on the wall. Anything between those sizes is for laying fertile eggs, and is more valuable to the future of the fishery than it is to any angler’s ego.

What is the best time of year to catch walleye?

The summer months of June and July tend to be the best for walleye. By this time, the spawning season is over, and most fishing venues will have a glut of small baitfish and shads, all of which walleye love to eat.

How much does a 25 inch walleye weigh?

Walleye Length To Weight Conversion Chart

How can you tell a male walleye from a female walleye?

The anus on a male is circular while the anus of a female resembles a keyhole, and the female’s will become larger once it is time for her to lay eggs. Examine the weight of your walleye. A male will weigh less and look slimmer than a female, with a more streamlined appearance; female walleyes are rounder and plump.

What is the best bait for walleye fishing?

Minnows

Minnows are the most popular bait option for walleye anglers, I have found consistent success with shiner and flathead minnows. When targeting bigger fish, shiners in the 4-6″ range are the mainstay, these will weed through some of the smaller fish and get you on 25″+ Walleye.

How do you identify walleye?

Unlike the sauger, the walleye lacks spots on its dusky dorsal fin, except for a dark splotch at the rear base of the fin, a marking the sauger does not have. The lower tip of the walleye’s tail is white, unlike the all-dark lower lobe of the sauger.