UTERSauger fishing in Minnesota freshwater
In Minnesota freshwater, sauger peak December–April and are around year-round, spawning in April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Mississippi Pool 4 below Red Wing and Lake Pepin — open water when everything else is ice.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sauger in Minnesota freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeak
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeakMississippi Pool 4 below Red Wing and Lake Pepin — open water when everything else is ice.
- AprilSpawning
- MayLeaving
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish sauger near Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Leech Lake
The land of lakes: walleye, pike, muskie, perch and crappie on ten thousand lakes, half the year through the ice — Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Leech, Red — plus the Rainy River's walleye and sturgeon.
What to use for sauger
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 34–76°F water, best at 45–65°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sauger in Minnesota freshwater?
Peak season is December–April, with fish spawning in April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Sauger are here year-round. March: Mississippi Pool 4 below Red Wing and Lake Pepin — open water when everything else is ice.
Where do sauger hold in Minnesota freshwater?
Look on river, bridge, reservoir — around Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Leech Lake, Upper Red Lake, Lake Vermilion, Rainy River.
What is the best bait for sauger in Minnesota freshwater?
Live bait: minnows (fatheads, shiners), nightcrawlers. Minnows (fatheads, shiners): Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for sauger in Minnesota freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Minnesota DNR) and change — read the current rule at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/fishing/index.html.
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All about sauger · Minnesota fresh water, the whole year