Sauger opinions

[fish4thepeck]

It's been several years since the Sauger fishing below Nickajack has been what I consider good. I honestly don't think the Sauger population is as good as it once was. I don't know if it's a particular reason or a combination of several things. I'm leaning toward the latter. I do know that for the past several years we haven't had the rains and TVA has cut down on moving water in recent years. I do know that the Sauger are current orientated. A few years ago I made a post about a bait fish that was abundant in the river. All the locals referred to it as a River minnow. The closest picture of one that I have found is the River Chub. Anyone that fished the River prior to early 80's knows what I'm talking about. I have not seen this minnow in several years. This bait fish started disappearing about the same time the Sauger fishing stated going downhill. I couldn't say if there is a link here but the timing is suspicious.
Back in the late seventies up till the early eighties the Sauger fishing was as good as it gets. The limit then was 15. The small males would run first followed by the females and it was this way every year not the three year cycle I have read about. The 15" limit placed on the Sauger in my opinion hurts more than it helps. The reason is that most of your 15" Sauger are females. The limit has been in effect long enough to start seeing some results and the results are not there. Anybody got any theories on this?

 

[blazer]

i dont really have any theories on this,i thought it was just my fishing skills.i use to catch more than i have in the last couple of years,but like i said i thought maybe it was just me.

 

[dragfish]

I think the 15" limit hurt. That alloowed all the big sows to be taken plus, I wastold TWRA netted a lot of them to stock other rivers, don't know for sure. Sure do miss those days!

 

[Guest]

I know Bettoli at Tn Tech and Maceina at Auburn have done some studies. Seems like remember reading that sauger spawns are very flow dependant. In dry times they have better success in West Tn, and wet times in East Tn, while Alabama does better in between years. Also I believe several of the studies showed that anglers were catching 50% of the age 2 fish (first time spawners) and that is when the size limits went in to place. Males and Females are not mature enough to spawn till somewhere between 13-14" (age 2), if the size limit is only 15" they are barely even getting to spawn once before being harvested. From what I remember from Pegg's tracking study, quite a few will move through multiple reservoirs, too. I can't recall for sure, but seems like I remember the biologist wanting the creel to be only 10, but politics got involved and the creel remained at 15 (with some under 15" for below Pickwick).

 

[BigFishGuide]

TWRA netted a barge full of Sauger at Nick Dam and hauled them off to other lakes and dams for stocking about 5 years ago and I've not caught a good limit since then. I really think most of the Sauger over 15" are mostly female. At least from my fish cleaning that's what I've noticed. I think maybe a slot limit would be in line here 12-14 keep and all fish over 14 realease. But right now I would just like to catch a 12" sauger. I've not seen one since November. BACK IN THE DAY 10 Years ago when you catch a limit and the boat ramp parking lot would be full of people fishing for Sauger you could easily catch from November to February fish all day. But now it's just a few fishermen down there who talk about the good ole days of catching a limit of Sauger.

 

[Jerry]

According to the records I keep, my catch of sauger at Nickajack Dam changed a lot about 4 years ago. But, consequentially, I don't fish for them there as often now as I used to. So, it's a little bit of "catch 22."

 

[fish4thepeck]

I wish the State Boys would step up to the plate on this issue. It seems ( TO ME) that the fish that generates the most revenue gets the most attention.
I know quite a few Sauger fisherman from across the State and the problem is just not below Nickajack.

 

[Guest]

IMO the biologist do a good job, it is up to the board to accept their recommendations. It didn't happen last time and the fishery is suffering because of it.

 

[dragfish]

Those were some great posts with a lot of good info! I wonder what it would take for the state to initiate a stocking program and yeah, a slot limit! I would love to have my grandaughter enjoy some decent sauger fishing.

 

[swamp]

If twra is going to have a 15in size limit on sauger,then anglers should not be allowed to use live bait.
How many sauger have you caught on minnows,(gut hooked,or hooked in the gills,or bleeding for any reason)that measured14,13, or 12in long ?
Keep 5 fish 12in. or less,release all sauger over 12in .
That would keep the spawning females in the river,and allow fisherman to eat the males. What do you think?

 

[fish4thepeck]

I would go for it. Most people use stinger hooks while using a minnow tipped on a jig. I use a 2" sassy shad on my sauger jigs but I still use the stinger hook. I have been told that sauger feed in a vertical position with their noses to the bottom. If this is true it probably explains why you don't feel a lot of thumps. With the stinger I have hooked them quite a few times on the outside of the gut so the stinger hooks could be worse than the live bait.

 

[sauger]

........Been fishing for those tasty fish for years. They seem to have their cycles in spawing as most fish do. We have a some good years, but if you remember about 4to 5 years back or even futher, we caught the hec out of them and the rivers were running all the floodgates wide open thur March. I don't think they have had a good spawn in several years!! So far down below the big G dam they haven't showed up yet,last year they caught alot in the lake on river bends. Lets hope they show!!!!

 

[Guest]

dragfish - 1/23/2009 6:16 PM

Those were some great posts with a lot of good info! I wonder what it would take for the state to initiate a stocking program and yeah, a slot limit! I would love to have my grandaughter enjoy some decent sauger fishing.

state does stock them, usually every other year. (the opposite years are for walleye in the reservoirs).

 

[Guest]

swamp - 1/23/2009 6:40 PM

If twra is going to have a 15in size limit on sauger,then anglers should not be allowed to use live bait.
How many sauger have you caught on minnows,(gut hooked,or hooked in the gills,or bleeding for any reason)that measured14,13, or 12in long ?
Keep 5 fish 12in. or less,release all sauger over 12in .
That would keep the spawning females in the river,and allow fisherman to eat the males. What do you think?

Here is some info on stinger hook rates on sauger: http://www2.tntech.edu/fish/sauger.html

IMO the under 12" creel would not work. First some of those under 12" would be future females, plus you do need to keep some males to spawn with females. Also 12" is about the size sauger become mature enough to spawn, so you would be removing those fish which are about to start spawning. Note that the harvest is about 50% of the catchable population, that is very high pressure on the fish. Let them spawn once (or even twice) before harvesting and IMO the population should be better balanced (ie less depended on good water years). I think you could potential go with a slot limit, say keeping only fish between 15"-17", that way the truly large females are protected, but all fish get at least one spawn in before they get harvested.

 

[fish4thepeck]

Sounds reasonable, one thing to note though; in my experience back before there was a size limit I either caught all females or all males. I use to clean a lot of sauger!

 

[sprestwood]

In my opinion a slot of 15-18 inches would be preferable. Creel limit 10. And if everyone demands it they should listen. Including demanding that fish not be netted and shipped out of state.

 

[Jerry]

After today’s catch (see Fishing Reports), I’d have to say I’m bringing the sauger over 19 inches home. Mine were both females and full of eggs. According to the TVA report I have on sauger in the Chickamauga Reservoir (1988), they probably were 5 years old, had spawned 2 or 3 times in the past, and weren’t likely to live much longer.