sauger

Sauger (Sander canadensis) is a freshwater fish in the perch family (Percidae) native to North America. It is closely related to the walleye (Sander vitreus) and is typically distinguished by its blotchy coloration and lack of white fin tips.

Its range covers eastern and central North America, principally in large rivers, reservoirs, and turbid waters within the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio river basins and surrounding regions. Juveniles inhabit backwaters; adults occupy deeper pools with sandy or gravel substrates.

Adults commonly reach 30–45 cm (12–18 in), with occasional individuals approaching 60 cm (24 in). The body is olive to golden with dark blotches. The dorsal fins have dark markings. Unlike walleye, sauger generally lacks white tips on the dorsal and caudal fins, a helpful field character for identification.

Sauger are primarily piscivorous, feeding on smaller fish and, as juveniles, invertebrates. They form schools in open water and undertake seasonal movements in concert with river flows. Spawning occurs in spring over gravel or rocky substrates; eggs are adhesive and hatch after several days to weeks depending on temperature.

Sauger support sport fisheries across its range, with management measures such as size limits, bag limits, and seasonal closures. They are sometimes stocked or hybridize with walleye to produce saugeye for fisheries. Habitat alteration and dam construction can impede their migrations and reduce populations in affected waters.

Taxonomy: formerly placed in Stizostedion; now classified as Sander canadensis. No widely recognized subspecies.