Burbot...anyone?

[Deadly Tedly]

I was curious if anyone has ever targeted Burbot with ice lines?? I find myself curiuos about the species and was wondering if anyone has intentionally pulled one up. I saw one while scuba diving in Superior a few years back...but never really heard of, or know, anyone who fishes for them. Wouldn't mind pulling one up just to say I have.

Let's hear from anyone who might be able to shed some light on this peculiar species.

Thanks
DT

[DANN09]

I cought one on Crystal lake last winter while fishing for lake trout. Using a tip-up baited with a dead smelt. It does happen but I don't think it's something that would be called a fishery.
But good luck!

[MOMS]

while fishing with a buddy out on little bay de noc last year, he pulled up a burbot. ugly thing! a yooper said if you cook it right, tastes like lobster. we didn't try it. he caught it jigging for walleye, on a jigging rapala,with a minnow.

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[Deadly Tedly]

MOMS...I have heard the same thing. I was talking with a guy at work today who says he has fished for them in the spring on the pier at Manistee using dead smelt. He claims that if you boil them in salt water they will taste just like lobster! He actually calls them Po-Boy Lobsta!! I guess I will have to try and drag one up from the depths this year to have a look see!

-DT

[benji]

Uncle used to skin fliet and cube into 2in cubes soak overnight then boil in salt water for 2 min.(few piece's at a time, so water maintains boil serve with melted butter for dipping...Also look for Ling-cod fishing in Minasota.

[Eastern Yooper]

We get them up here on the St. Mary's River all the time.

Burbot, otherwise known as lawyers, ling, and eelpout, are actually a freshwater cod. They spawn in the February; and they stay in the shipping channels (deep water) until it gets dark out.... then they move to shallower water.

Locals actually fish for them on a regular basis. A popular method is to jig a whole smelt just off the bottom. Others are caught accidentally.

The biggest state record burbot caught on hook and line was taken from Munuscong Bay and weighed a whopping 18 lbs. 4 oz!

And you fellas are correct: Burbot fillets are actually pretty good table fare when boiled in salt water.

[chef]

if you bake it it tastes just like cod! flakes the same and everything. we have found that if you can keep them alive till you clean them they do taste better. we also catch them on the pier in manistee fishing for browns or monomonie. (sp?)

[flydunker]

Went ice fishing last year on Lake of the Woods out of Baudet Minn. caught alot many burbot on that trip mostly at night. The guides has us fillet them and slow boil them in milk (WOW!!!) I get a sick feeling when I say this but, we caught aot of walleye and perch on this trip but the burbot had to be the best tasting fish we ate.
Has anyone been doing any fishing around the Reed City, Big Rapids area? vacation starts today and would like to get onto the ice. Thought I would try and get some information if it is out there.