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Saugeye had a big mouth!

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saugeye
7K views 23 replies 16 participants last post by  buckeyebowman 
#1 ·
Was able to get the HJ dialed in right around dark and picked up 3 nice fish before losing my last of 2 HJ on a snag.

While cleaning the biggest fish (21 1/2in) noticed how big it’s belly was for being that size, was worried about eggs but upon further inspection it was an 8in crappie, Or so me think!
 

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#7 ·
I read somewhere, maybe on the internet so it has to be true :rolleyes: that a walleye can eat a fish 30% of it's size ... I always thought that was a bit of a stretch because that means a 3# fish could eat a 1# or a 10 pounder could eat a 3# perch or shad ... but have seen some 7-8" fish in bellys when cleaning and tried once putting an 8" perch in the mouth of about a 6# 'eye and it fit ... lol AND I couldn't get it back out until I cleaned them :eek: those eye teeth are angled backwards :cool:
 
#8 ·
Lol thats funny,ive played around with saugeye carcass as well,seeing how wide there mouth opens,an its suprisingly wide. If you can open it just like there like a hinge if you push it out there mouths open wider or as wide as there heads.
An the teeth angled back are wicked an can reallt trap some baitfish!
 
#12 ·
Not trying to discount any of the shad those eyes have swallowed or even the 30% of size rule, but have always wondered if eyes tear up larger bait fish with their teeth to eat them or even school up with their sharp teeth to eat larger prey. Ive come to the conclusion most eyes inhale the whole baitfish like a bass, but have always thrown around the idea that eyes can tear apart much larger prey than they can eat with their teeth. Just curious if anyone has some facts about this? Only instances i have to confirm this is undersize 14" eyes, attacking large baits like rapala f18s or even musky baits. Or does these baits just attract fish no matter size, or are this small fish trying to tear the bait up with their teeth only to be caught by a bait almost their own size?
 
#17 ·
I think its more of a curiosity/reaction strike thing. On the ohio river i get really small saugers eating full size rouges an hj14s, the erie guys are seeing plenty of dinks taking there bigger reefrunners/bandits/smithwicks etc. Ive even caught my share of bass with eyes bigger then there tummys. Then you get those silly 8" summer timecrappie eating full sized cranks zoomed bye there heads.

I think my most shocking little fish big bait fish was a 6/7" perch eating a full size rouge in december. There not known for being aggresive at all.
I think a lot of times the fish isnt seeing just how big that hunk of plastic is,as it darts bye them,an they just "attack" things out of instinct.
An same as everyone else i mainly find fullsize shad in tbe stomachs of saugeye sauger and walleye.
 
#20 ·
What time of year? Imo there mercantilism is either much faster in the summer or tjere constantly eating in fall/winter.
I usually find most baitfish in stomachs in the colder weather. I imagine the fins an tails on those spit up baitfish had deteriated faster then the body rather then bitten off.
Its weird to i see more baitfish spit uo in the livewell or bucket way more in warm months them cold months. Im sure there is something scientific vehind it.
 
#24 ·
On a fishing trip to Canada my buddy caught a Pike of close to 40". Cleaning it he noticed how distended and hard the stomach was so he opened it up. There was an 18" Sucker in there!

Also have pic somewhere of that same buddy who was casting a very small red and white Dardevle. He felt a "tic" on the line and thought he had clipped a weed. He reeled in to check and caught a tiny Perch that was no bigger than the spoon!

As far as finding baitfish remains in stomachs in colder weather, that seems logical to me. The fishes metabolism is slow because of the colder water. If they hork down one big meal, that should last them for a while. They can go find a spot where they can just rest, and that baitfish should keep them alive for quite some time.
 
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