Burbot fishing
Lota lota. Long, eel-like body with smooth skin hiding tiny, almost microscopic scales, so it looks scaleless at a glance.
Burbot fishing uses a large soft plastic or cut fish bait, at dusk and at night. Burbot are wild and self-sustaining everywhere this site covers them, not a stocked species.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 21, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dusk and Night
- Line
- –
- Hook sizes
- Single hooks with a gap from point to shank of at least 3/4 inch.
- Stocked in
- 0 states
Identification
- Long, eel-like body with smooth skin hiding tiny, almost microscopic scales, so it looks scaleless at a glance.
- Minnesota DNR calls it a cross between an eel and a catfish, but its chin barbel and two dorsal fins set it apart from either.
- A short first dorsal fin is followed by a much longer second dorsal fin running back to a rounded tail.
- Mottled skin pattern that ranges from black to grey, olive, or even yellow.
- Most fish caught run 3 to 5 pounds; anything over 8 pounds is considered trophy size in Alaska's fisheries.
Sources: adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 21, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 21, 2026 , dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 21, 2026
Top lures
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 21, 2026 , adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 21, 2026
Top baits
Large fresh-cut chunks on a single hook with a gap over 3/4 inch, fished on bottom; burbot have big mouths and favor fresh bait.
Salmon or trout heads, tails, fins, and guts (not the meat) fished on a bottom set line with a heavy sinker (8+ oz) to hold position.
Line & tackle
- Rod power
- Hook sizes
- Single hooks with a gap from point to shank of at least 3/4 inch.
Depth by season
Spring
–
Summer
Retreats below the thermocline into the coldest water available and becomes far less active; in Lake Superior, burbot have been found deeper than 980 feet.
Fall
–
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 21, 2026 , adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 21, 2026
Stocked behavior
Burbot are wild and self-sustaining everywhere this site covers them, not a stocked species. No state's stocking records in this project's data include a single burbot release, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Minnesota DNR both describe burbot purely as a naturally reproducing native fish, with none of the hatchery detail they give species like trout or salmon.
Sources: adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 21, 2026 , dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 21, 2026
Common mistakes
- Only fishing during daylight; burbot feed primarily at night.
- ADF&G recommends large fresh chunks of whitefish, herring, smelt, or squid for burbot.
- Burbot have a wide diet and readily bite lures.
Where it's stocked
No stocking events recorded for Burbot yet.
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 14 lbs | P.A. Dayton | Kootenai River | 1954 |
| Michigan | 18.25 lbs | – | St. Marys River - Munuscong Bay, Chippewa County | 1980 |
| Montana | 17.08 lbs. | Jeff Eugene Iwen | Missouri River Wolf Point | 1989 |
| New York | 16 lb. 12 oz. | Terrance Colwell | Lake Ontario (Black River Bay), Jefferson Co. | 1991 |
| Wisconsin | 18 lbs. 2 oz. | – | Lake Superior, Bayfield County | 2002 |
| Wyoming | 19.25 lbs. | K. E. Mooreland | Pilot Butte Reservoir, Fremont County | 1965 |
Common questions
What lures work for Burbot?
Large soft plastic, a soft plastic.
What bait works for Burbot?
Cut fish bait (whitefish, herring, smelt, or squid): Large fresh-cut chunks on a single hook with a gap over 3/4 inch, fished on bottom; burbot have big mouths and favor fresh bait. Fish viscera: Salmon or trout heads, tails, fins, and guts (not the meat) fished on a bottom set line with a heavy sinker (8+ oz) to hold position.
Where do Burbot hold?
Summer: Retreats below the thermocline into the coldest water available and becomes far less active; in Lake Superior, burbot have been found deeper than 980 feet. Winter: Spawns under the ice in mid to late winter, moving into shallow water to do it; ADF&G's set-line guidance places bait in as little as 1-3 feet along inside gravel bars during this period.
How big do Burbot get?
The Idaho record is 14 lbs from Kootenai River in 1954. The Michigan record is 18.25 lbs from St. Marys River - Munuscong Bay, Chippewa County in 1980. The Montana record is 17.08 lbs. from Missouri River Wolf Point in 1989. 3 more state records are on this page.