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Best sauger lakes in South Dakota

5 South Dakota waters hold sauger. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — 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.

1. Lake Francis Case — 140 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
2. Lake Sharpe — 78 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
3. Lewis and Clark Lake — 45 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Crappie
4. Missouri River (Gavins Point) — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
5. Missouri River (Oahe Tailrace) — 35 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger

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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 brown bullhead lakes

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