These creatures roam deep water, inhaling anything in their way. Hated by many, loved by few, the fish I am referring to is the almighty “Burbot.”
Across the ice belt, anglers are given the opportunity to target numerous fish: bluegills, crappies, lake trout, walleyes, whitefish, and the list goes on and on. Now, don’t get me wrong, these “typical” fish are fun to chase through the ice, but there is one unsung hero of the depths that lacks the respect it deserves.
These creatures roam deep water, inhaling anything in their way. Hated by many, loved by few, the fish I am referring to is the almighty “Burbot.” Also known as “Eelpout,” these fish frequent deep and clear lakes across North America and Europe. Size varies depending on the lake, but fish up to 25 pounds have been recorded.
A few years ago, I had gone out to a local lake to target walleyes for the evening and set up in about 29 feet of water. The walleye action was poor, but I managed a few for the table. As I was just about to pack up, I noticed a strange mark rising off the bottom on my flasher. Before I could even move my spoon, my rod was doubled over and the fight began. I remember thinking, This is going to be the biggest walleye of my life and no one is going to be able to take my picture! Well, it was not a walleye.
As I shined my headlight down the hole, I recognized the unique pattern and color of a burbot. At first, I was disappointed. All this time I had spent fighting this fish, it wasn’t even a walleye. But then, I had a revelation of sorts. This fish beat me up, made incredible runs, and was finally landed after what felt like hours. It was at that moment that I gained respect for what many consider a “trash fish.” I ended up catching two that night and started to research how to specifically target them.
Tactics
When targeting burbot, it’s crucial to have the right tools for the job. These fish are powerful swimmers, so using at least a 28-inch rod with a medium to medium/heavy action is necessary. There are various line choices, but I prefer to use 15-pound braid tied to a 12-pound monofilament leader (about 2 feet in length). The braid provides plenty of power while the small mono lead gives some stretch on the hookset, as not to pull the jig out of the fish’s mouth.
Burbot are voracious feeders, so don’t worry about using a finesse presentation. The best bait setup I have found is a large rattling spoon or jig head, at least ½ ounce in size. Tipped with two or three fathead minnows, it’s an offering that big “burbs” can’t resist.
These snake-like fish tend to feed close to bottom, so keeping your bait low is key. Three to four foot strokes that fall to the bottom create a commotion, triggering fish into swimming over to see what in the heck is going on.
If you are fishing with a sonar unit, many times you will not mark the fish because they hang so tight. Often the bite will occur when lifting the jig up to “pound” the bottom again.
Another added bonus of burbot is that they are often nocturnal feeders. When work gets in the way of the primetime “dusk” bite for other fish, the eelpout will be there all night long.
Areas
During midwinter, the best areas to fish are steep breaks with access to deep water nearby. These areas serve as feeding zones, and often times fish will move up from deeper water at night in search of an easy meal.
Eelpout spawn underneath the ice, so in March large schools of fish will move up to shallower humps, forming “spawn balls” filled with aggressive fish. The technique to catch them still remains the same, just slide into shallower water.
Table Fare
Not only are burbot a blast to catch, they taste delicious. Often referred to as the poor man’s lobster, these fish have firm white meat that can be prepared a number of ways. A classic recipe is chunking the fillets and boiling them in 7-Up, then served with melted butter over the top. It’s that easy!
Good luck and enjoy the raw power of the pout!