Both rivers support game fish like northern pike, bass, sauger, and muskellunge. The Tennessee River provides excellent fishing opportunities for bass, sunfish, crappie, sauger, and catfish. The average sauger in an angler's creel is in weight. Sauger, also known as sand pike, bite the best in cooler water. Fish species present include the walleye, northern pike, and sauger. The Illinois River is still an important sports fishing waterway with a good sauger fishery. Sauger and walleye predominate, with rare perch and white bass catches. Late spring (between May 5 and June 30) is dominated by walleye and sauger fishing.