Help me ID this fish

[Doc Marshall]

I was fishing out of kayak on Old Hickory earlier this week and caught this guy. I assume it's a walleye? If so, it would be my first. I caught him on a rooster tail after hours of bringing in white bass. It was a fun fight on a light rod. And quite a nice surprise.

Rooster tails are amazing. They don't necessarily get you big fish, but they can be great for numbers and variety of species.

[txnative]

Sauger. Where were you catching the whites ? I am dying to get into them and haven't been on old hick all year, so I'm not up to speed on the bite pattern.


Chris

[Travis C.]

Walleye and Sauger can be tricky.

Sauger have spots in rows on the dorsal fin and the dark stripes or saddles they call them go below the lateral line. Walleye's the saddles aren't as dark or extend that far and have white spot on tail tips.

[Alphahawk]

Can't see it well enough but could also be a Saugeye.


Regards

[Fish Whisperer]

It's a sauger, and if it was 15" it would be a sammich by now..

[Pookie]

It's a sauger

Yep, and it is getting to be time for them to start making their journey.

[Fish Whisperer]

Yes it is.... I got my cold gear ready for em..

[agelesssone]

Fish whisperer,

As soon as the Doc (and Sergeant Major wife Susi) give me the OK to get out and about, we gotta go get some sauger and walleye. Supposedly about the end of Oct.

[Fish Whisperer]

I'm going up to Dale Hollow this weekend then turning my attention to upper Old Hickory and the Cumby for a while... Call me when she gives you the ok.

[tkwalker]

Can't see it well enough but could also be a Saugeye.


Regards

The easiest way is to look at the fish horizontal front or from the rear ... Sauger is cylinderical in girth ... (Round) .... Eyes have flat sides like most pike .... Now as far as the saugeye is concerned ... Don't have a clue ... need to check back with Alpha !!! <'TK><

[Alphahawk]

The easiest way is to look at the fish horizontal front or from the rear ... Sauger is cylinderical in girth ... (Round) .... Eyes have flat sides like most pike .... Now as far as the saugeye is concerned ... Don't have a clue ... need to check back with Alpha !!! <'TK><

I dont have a clue either after reading some articles last night about the two. I have caught some Saugeye at Normandy and know it is hard to tell the difference....most articles about it say to look at the dorsal fin....as Travis said. I am no good at catching Sauger...only by accident. When I try to catch them I cant catch a single fish.

Regards

[MNfisher]

Definitely dorsal fin is easiest for me. Clear equals walleye, spotted equals sauger. Works everytime! Also a sauger will pretty much have no white spot on the tail. A walleye will. I used to catch both species often, from the Mississippi in St. Paul.

[Pookie]

I'm going up to Dale Hollow this weekend then turning my attention to upper Old Hickory and the Cumby for a while... Call me when she gives you the ok.

I have caught them below the dam at Cheatham, as well as some BIG white bass while sauger fishing.

[txnative]

When do the whites typically show up below cheatham ? I have had zero luck the two times I've been.

I catch sauger pretty well below old hick on a rebel minnow retrieved fairly tight to the bank, and also bouncing a 4" white/chartreuse tail slider grub on a 3/8 oz jighead from the bank near the steps. I've had great days where I've caught keeper sauger, 'eyes up to 4 lbs, big whites, and nice smallies on the jigs, but a decent flow is needed.

Chris

[Fish Whisperer]

I used to take Thanksgiving week off and fish everyday and I'd wear the whites out below OHD..

[Pookie]

The trick to catching sauger or stripe below the dam is; it has to be colder than a well digger's ass. The more generation, the better the bite. They will start showing up in the next 30 days, and it will be on.

I have never used anything but a jig, tipped with a minnow. Also, make sure you have the treble hook stinger as they bite short sometimes. 1 oz. wedge shaped, or football shaped, not much difference. White or chartreuse skirt (bristles) is the usual color.