Sauger, Sander canadensis, have a fusiform, torpedo-shaped body and are green to grayish-brown in color with darker splotches on their body and a white belly. Coloration of these fish may change depending on the water and turbidity. They have spots on their dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is spiny and the one behind it has soft rays. Sauger are distinguished from walleye by the spots on their dorsal fins and lack of the white tip on their tail. They are also typically smaller than walleye. They have tapetum lucidum in their eyes to help them see in dark conditions.
They live in large streams, rivers, and lakes. They prefer deep and turbid water, and are native to the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi and Missouri River basins. In these areas, they feed on other fish, mayflies, insects, and invertebrates depending on the prey base and time of year and are most active from dusk to dawn.
Sauger broadcast spawn in the spring in gravel or rocks in shallow water. The timing of the spawn is controlled by water temperature and photoperiod. They spawn when water temperature is 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They need enough current to keep the eggs circulating and clear of debris, but strong winds post-spawn may be harmful to the recruitment of this fish.
