Now Is The Time For Sauger

Fishing is normally considered a warm weather activity for many Tennessee anglers, but now is the best time of the year to try for one of  Tennessee’s best tasting fish.  January is one of the prime months for sauger fishing.

Many anglers consider the sauger to be a mystery fish.  They are looked on as being mysterious because most are taken in the winter months.  Although a number of sauger are taken during the spring and summer months, over 90 percent of the sauger taken in Tennessee are caught from November through March.

Tennessee is blessed with a number of good sauger areas and hundreds of miles of sauger habitat.  A few of the most productive areas in West Tennessee are:

• Pickwick Dam tailrace downstream 10 miles to the Diamond Island area of Kentucky Lake.
• Coffee Landing area, Kentucky Lake, 10 miles north of Savannah bridge.
• Mouth of Duck River where it enters Kentucky Lake.

It is difficult to predict peak fishing periods because the weather is the controlling factor, but the best results come on dark, overcast days.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) urges all sauger fishermen to be aware of the weather conditions before planning any wintertime fishing trip.  Remember to dress appropriately and practice good safety habits. Watch for signs of hypothermia.  Above all, stay dry and be sure to wear your life jackets.  Tennessee law requires that you wear your life jacket 1,000 feet below dams.

Be sure to check the current Tennessee Fishing Regulations for the creel and size limit for the body of water being fished.  Fishing Regulations may be found wherever hunting and fishing license are sold, at all TWRA regional offices, or here.