Just got off the phone with DNR fisheries biologist Doug Welch. He has CONFIRMED the 6 lb. 3 oz fish caught Sunday at Red Wing by Don “Uncle Duck” Peyer is a sauger! We have a new state record! Previous Wisconsin record set in 1988 on L. Wis was 5 lb. 13 oz.Mn. record of 6 lb. 2.75 oz will still stand (even though Duck’s fish is bigger) ’cause the old sauger hawk was only totin’ a Cheeseland license. Stank…and others who have been biting fingernails…this is a BIG DEAL. An actually autopsy has to be done to tell the difference between a walleye, sauger and saugeye. It all boils down to little nodules called pyloric ceca which are found on the lower end of the stomach. Walleyes and saugeyes have 5, sauger have 3…and the ceca are smaller. A story about Uncle Duck’s historic achievement will run in the Janesville Gazette tomorrow. Every one of us ponders the the thought…at least for a moment… of catching a record sauger or walleye EVERY TIME we go out there. Be honest…you know that you do. Anyway, when you consider how many times we have headed out over the last 20 years and didn’t break the record, Don Peyer’s fish of dreams has considerable significance. Congrats, Duckster!!! You Da Man!
Capn Ted Peck
April 4, 2008 at 2:00 pm
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