Sauger across Minnesota
Minnesota rules, records and lakes for sauger.
- 6 combined total (onlimit
- 6 lb 2 ozrecord
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Minnesota sauger at a glance
Sauger belongs to the perch family on the DNR list. For inland waters (statewide), the limit reads 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20″ in possession) with a season of May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027.
The state record is 6 lb 2 oz, taken from Mississippi River near Red Wing, (L&D No.3) in 1988. DNR surveys list it in 15 lakes; 17 of them have a page here. The best gill net rate belongs to Lake Pepin: 19.58 per net.
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“Sauger: The walleye's cousin”
“The sauger, sometimes called the "sand pike," is a relative of the walleye. This fish is often mistaken for a walleye. You can tell the difference by looking at the dorsal (top) fin. The sauger has spots in this fin and the walleye doesn't.”
“Sauger are long and thin, with dark backs, brassy sides, dark spots, and a pale belly. They have a forked tail with a pale streak on the bottom edge. Some sauger have a black spot on their body near where pectoral fin attaches.”
- Sauger: spots on dorsal fin; no dark area at base of dorsal fin.identification
- You can tell the difference by looking at the dorsal (top) fin.identification
- Sauger have a more limited distribution than walleye, and they don't grow as large.habitat
- sand pikealso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Rules for keeping sauger
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Heaviest sauger on record
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 6 lb 2 oz | Mississippi River near Red Wing, (L&D No.3) | Goodhue | 1988 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Highest sauger survey catch
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Pepin | 19.58 | 10.2-18.6 | 0.78 | 2024 |
| Lake of the Woods | 17.14 | 10.2-18.6 | 0.49 | 2025 |
| Kabetogama Lake | 3.15 | 2.1-4.3 | 0.53 | 2025 |
| Crane Lake, St. Louis County | 3 | 0.9-3.0 | 0.42 | 2021 |
| St. Croix River | 2.73 | 0.93 | 2024 | |
| Agnes Lake near Winton, St. Louis County | 2.67 | 0.9-3.0 | 0.44 | 2016 |
| Namakan Lake | 2.55 | 2.1-4.3 | 0.26 | 2025 |
| Spring Lake, Dakota County | 2.5 | 7.2 | 1.6 | 2001 |
| Rainy Lake, St. Louis County | 1.67 | 2.1-4.3 | 0.29 | 2025 |
| Little Vermilion Lake | 1.38 | 0.9-3.0 | 0.4 | 2021 |
| Sand Point Lake | 1.2 | 2.1-4.3 | 0.31 | 2025 |
| Iron Lake, St. Louis County | 0.67 | 0.9-3.0 | 0.62 | 2018 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Where DNR surveys place sauger
Big lakes for sauger
- Lake of the Woods725,583 acres
- Rainy Lake, St. Louis County210,200 acres
- Lac la Croix29,597 acres
- Namakan Lake24,066 acres
- Kabetogama Lake24,034 acres
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County10,360 acres
- Sand Point Lake8,527 acres
- St. Croix River8,393 acres
- Crane Lake, St. Louis County2,921 acres
- Loon Lake near Orr, St. Louis County2,498 acres
- Iron Lake, St. Louis County1,962 acres
- Spring Lake, Dakota County1,494 acres
- Little Vermilion Lake1,288 acres
- Agnes Lake near Winton, St. Louis County1,045 acres
- Rat Root Lake734 acres
- Goose Lake, Goodhue County220 acres
Flowing water with sauger
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Species grouped with sauger
- Walleyeperch family
- Saugeyeperch family
- Yellow perchperch family
Shorelines around Sauger
Photo: Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Answers before you chase sauger
Which Minnesota rules govern keeping sauger?
6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) (Inland waters (statewide)), season May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027.
What is the biggest sauger caught in Minnesota?
6 lb 2 oz from Mississippi River near Red Wing, (L&D No.3) (1988).
Which Minnesota waters hold sauger?
Lake Pepin leads the DNR gill net catch at 19.58 per net; 18 waters on this site list it.
Does the DNR stock sauger?
The stocking pages here do not list it.
Which features mark sauger?
Sauger: spots on dorsal fin; no dark area at base of dorsal fin.
Does Minnesota close the season on sauger?
May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027
Which license do sauger anglers buy in Minnesota?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Can I hire a trip for sauger?
All Minnesota operators are on the guides page.
Fish for sauger this season
Every listed water opens its own Minnesota page.