Best sauger lakes in South Dakota
5 South Dakota waters list sauger (official records or labelled estimates). Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The river-running cousin of the walleye. Built for current and muddy water — channel edges, wing dams and the deep holes below every dam.
- Missouri River (Gavins Point) — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
- Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) — 35 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Lake Francis Case — 140 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Sharpe — 78 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lewis and Clark Lake — 45 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, CrappieWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See South Dakota waters with public access data
When to fish sauger in South Dakota
- Spring 4–18 ft — The famous tailwater run — fish stack below dams and on gravel bars in current seams.
- Summer 10–30 ft — Main-channel ledges and deep sand/gravel flats with current.
- Fall 12–35 ft — Fish pod up tight on channel structure — find one and you've found fifty.
- Winter 15–45 ft — The deepest holes below dams hold winter sauger by the hundreds.
Also in South Dakota: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown bullhead lakes
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