# Saugeye

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The **saugeye** (***Sander canadensis* × *vitreus***) is a [hybrid](/source/Hybrid_(biology)) [freshwater](/source/Freshwater) [fish](/source/Fish) between [walleye](/source/Walleye) (*Sander viterus*) and [sauger](/source/Sauger) (*Sander canadensis*) of the family [Percidae](/source/Percidae). They are commonly stocked in the [midwestern United States](/source/Midwestern_United_States) for recreational [angling](/source/Angling).

## Description

The color of saugeye varies from olive green to gold but most individuals exhibit distinct dark saddles extending across the body.[1] Additionally, saugeye exhibit distinct streaks across the [dorsal fin](/source/Dorsal_fin) that frequently have one to two rows of spots along the base. Sauger will have multiple rows of spots while walleye only exhibit indistinct crescents across the dorsal fin.[1] Saugeye are difficult to identify based on external characteristics alone due to their similarity with both parent species. For example, 27% of presumed walleye sampled in the [Ohio River](/source/Ohio_River) were later determined to be saugeye through genetic techniques.[2]

## Diet

Like walleye and sauger, saugeye are predominantly [piscivorous](/source/Piscivorous). Prey consumed ultimately depends on location and prey availability, but saugeye diets primarily consist of [centrarchids](/source/Centrarchid), [cyprinids](/source/Cyprinid), and [clupeids](/source/Clupeid).[3][4] In many cases, saugeye are stocked to utilize abundant [gizzard shad](/source/American_gizzard_shad),[4] a prey item they readily consume.[5]

## Reproduction

Saugeye are produced by crossing the eggs from a female walleye and sperm from a male sauger.[3]

## Management

Saugeye are raised in hatcheries and stocked throughout the [United States](/source/United_States) to provide an additional fishery opportunity for recreational anglers in reservoirs, rivers, and tailwaters. Some states that have stocked saugeye include [Ohio](/source/Ohio), [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee), [Colorado](/source/Colorado), and [Nebraska](/source/Nebraska).[6] Some saugeye stockings occur where habitat is considered too warm or [eutrophic](/source/Eutrophic) for walleye, therefore saugeye are expected to perform better.[7]

In some waterbodies, saugeye occur naturally[8][9] and [backcross](/source/Backcross) with sauger or walleye.[10][11]

## References

1. ["Saugeye Management"](https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/fish/saugeye/). *Virginia Department of Wildlife Conservation*. Retrieved 24 June 2024.

1. White et al. (2003). "A Genetic Assessment of Ohio River Walleyes". *Transactions of the American Fisheries Society*. **134** (3): 661–665. [doi:10.1577/T03-218.1](https://doi.org/10.1577/T03-218.1)

1. Lynch et al. (1982). "Survival, Growth, and Food Habits of Walleye X Sauger Hybrids (Saugeye) in Ponds". *North American Journal of Fisheries Management*. **2** (4): 381–387. [Bibcode:1982NAJFM...2..381L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1982NAJFM...2..381L). [doi:10.1577/1548-8659(1982)2<381:SGAFHO>2.0.CO;2](https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1982)2%3C381:SGAFHO%3E2.0.CO;2)

1. Sieber Denlinger et al. (2005). "Seasonal Consumptive Demand and Prey Use by Stocked Saugeyes in Ohio Reservoirs". *Transactions of the American Fisheries Society*. **135**: 12–27.

1. Johnson et al. (1988). "Habitat Preferences, Survival, Growth, Foods, and Harvests of Walleyes and Walleye X Sauger Hybrids". *North American Journal of Fisheries Management*. **8**: 292–304. [doi:10.1577/1548-8675(1988)008<0292:HPSGFA>2.3.CO;2](https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675(1988)008%3C0292:HPSGFA%3E2.3.CO;2)

1. ["Sander canadensis × vitreus"](https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=829). *U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database*. Retrieved 24 June 2024.

1. Quist et al. (2010). "An Evaluation of Angler Harvest of Walleye and Saugeye in a Kansas Reservoir". *Journal of Freshwater Ecology*. **25** (1): 1–7. [Bibcode:2010JFEco..25....1Q](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010JFEco..25....1Q). [doi:10.1080/02705060.2010.9664351](https://doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2010.9664351)

1. Graeb et al. (2010). "Age-Structured Assessment of Walleyes, Saugers, and Naturally Produced Hybrids in Three Missouri River Reservoirs". *North American Journal of Fisheries Management*. **30** (4): 887–897. [Bibcode:2010NAJFM..30..887G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010NAJFM..30..887G). [doi:10.1577/M09-091.1](https://doi.org/10.1577/M09-091.1)

1. ["Comprehensive Fisheries Survey of Lake Wisconsin Columbia County, Wisconsin 2012"](https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Fishing/Reports_ColumbiaLakeWisconsin2012Comprehensive.pdf). *Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources*. Retrieved 25 June 2024.

1. Fiss et al. (2011). "Reproduction among Saugeyes (Fx Hybrids) and Walleyes in Normandy Reservoir, Tennessee". *North American Journal of Fisheries Management*. **17**: 215–219. [doi:10.1577/1548-8675(1997)017<0215:RASFHA>2.3.CO;2](https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675(1997)017%3C0215:RASFHA%3E2.3.CO;2)

1. Graham et al. (2020). "Spontaneous hybridization and introgression between walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (Sander canadensis) in two large reservoirs: Insights from genotyping by sequencing". *Evolutionary Applications*. **14** (4): 965–982. [doi:10.1111/eva.13174](https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13174). [PMC 8061268](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8061268). [PMID 33897814](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33897814)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saugeye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saugeye) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saugeye?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.