Every winter, thousands of ice anglers make the trek to Lake of the Woods with visions of walleyes dancing in their heads. And why not? This is the Walleye Capital, after all. But there’s another fish swimming beneath those holes in the ice that deserves a whole lot more credit than it gets.

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield built his career on the phrase, “I don’t get no respect.” That’s the sauger in a nutshell. This smaller cousin to the walleye fills buckets day after day, keeps rods bent when walleyes won’t cooperate, and tastes just as good on the dinner plate. Yet somehow, it rarely gets top billing.

Here are ten good reasons to show the humble sauger a little more love.

1. Sauger save the day

We’ve all had days when walleyes just won’t play along. Maybe they’re not in the mood; maybe the weather changed; maybe they’re just being stubborn. That’s when saugers shine. While you’re waiting for walleyes to move through, sauger keep your lines tight and your spirits up. They’ve saved countless trips from being a bust and preserved many an evening fish fry.

2. There’s a lot of them right now—and they’re big

Sauger numbers at Lake of the Woods go up and down over the years, but right now, the population is through the roof. Better yet, many of them are big. We’re talking 17 to 18 inches, which is a giant for a sauger.

Picture this: You’re watching your flasher when that red line appears, or you spot a few fish on your forward-facing sonar, sliding across the mud bottom toward your lure. Your heart starts pounding as you wait for that tap at the end of your rod. That’s what sauger fishing is all about.

3. They live where walleyes live

Sauger and walleyes are neighbors. It’s common to come off the ice with a mixed bag of both species, usually with a couple jumbo perch thrown in and maybe even an eelpout.

That said, sauger do have their preferences. They tend to hang out in slightly deeper water than walleyes, and they’re real bottom huggers. Walleyes use more of the water column and often suspend while chasing baitfish like tulibees. Sauger like to keep their bellies close to the mud.

4. Kids love them

Let’s be honest—walleye fishing can test your patience. They cruise in, they cruise out, and sometimes they ignore you completely. Sauger are more forgiving. They bite more consistently and keep the action going, which is exactly what kids need. When you’ve got young anglers in the fish house, sauger keep the electronics lit up and the bobbers popping. That’s how you create lifelong ice anglers.

5. They’re different

Most lakes in the Midwest don’t have sauger. They prefer river systems and stained water, so unless you fish the right places, you won’t catch them. That makes them special.

They look different from walleyes, too. Sauger don’t have a white tip on the bottom of their tail. Instead, they have brown, splotchy skin and spots on their dorsal fin. Walleyes have a black spot at the base of their dorsal fin; saugers don’t. Once you learn the differences, you’ll never mix them up again.

6. They taste amazing

The firm white meat of a sauger is sought after by anyone who’s tried it. Some locals will tell you straight up that they prefer sauger over walleyes because the meat is a touch sweeter. Most folks can’t tell the difference once they’re breaded and fried. Either way, one thing’s certain: They’re delicious.

7. You can keep plenty

Lake of the Woods has a strong sauger population, and the regulations reflect it. In winter, you can keep a combined total of six walleyes and sauger per day. Up to four of those can be walleyes. That’s enough for a great fish fry and still have some to bring home to the freezer.

8. They bite all winter long

Some lakes lose oxygen late in the season and the fishing shuts down. Not Lake of the Woods. It’s big water with plenty of oxygen, and with so many sauger in the system, there are always fish willing to bite. March can be absolutely incredible for both walleyes and sauger as they put on the feedbag before spawning.

9. The season runs into April

For ice anglers who hate to see winter end, Lake of the Woods is a dream come true. The season starts early and ends late. Fish houses can stay out overnight through March 31, and the walleye and sauger season runs through April 14. Depending on the year, resorts are often still putting anglers on fish through the ice until the end of March.

10. They’re just plain fun to catch

Sauger fishing is a lot like walleye fishing. They hug the bottom, usually in deeper water. The classic approach works great: Jig your favorite lure tipped with a minnow head in one hole, and run a deadstick in the other with a live minnow suspended six inches off bottom.

Just like walleyes, sauger change their attitude daily. Some days, they’ll chase down your jigging lure like it insulted their mother. Other days, they’ll cruise in, look at the jigging spoon, and only eat the minnow on the deadstick. That’s part of what makes them fun; you never know what you’re going to get.

Walleyes get most of the glory at Lake of the Woods, and they deserve it. But sauger play a huge role in what makes ice fishing here so successful. They’re fun to catch, are everywhere right now, and they taste fantastic. Even if you’re coming up primarily for walleyes, there’s a good chance sauger will be a fun and delicious part of your trip. Give them the respect they deserve.