11-12-24 REELLIFE digital - Flipbook - Page 17
fishing
ERIC BURBOT
As winter tightens its icy
grip on the local northern
lakes, a dedicated group
of anglers emerges from
their homes, braving frigid
temperatures and frozen
waters. Their prize? The
elusive and quite often
underrated burbot. This
curious freshwater species,
often referred to as “poor
man's lobster”, is highly
prized for its delicate,
white meat, and is a
staple winter pursuit for
many ice anglers. While
ice fishing for burbot can
be challenging, it is also
incredibly rewarding. With
their bottom-dwelling
tendencies and nocturnal
habits, catching burbot
requires specialized
techniques and a solid
understanding of their
behavior. In this article,
we will explore the best
strategies, gear, and tactics
to help land this slippery
catch beneath the ice.
UNDERSTANDING BURBOT:
BEHAVIOR & HABITAT
Burbot (LotaLota) is a
unique species, the only
member of the cod family
found in freshwater. They
are typically found in cold,
deep lakes and rivers
across North America.
During the winter months,
burbot are active as they
prepare for their spawning
season, making them a
prime target for ice fishing.
Burbot are known for their
nocturnal behavior, being
mostly active during the
late evening and early
morning hours.
They prefer to linger near
the bottom of lakes, often
inhabiting rocky shorelines,
deep basins, and steep
drop-offs. Understanding
these habits is crucial to
developing an effective icefishing strategy.
One key element to burbot
fishing is their winter
spawning season, which
typically occurs from midJanuary to early March.
During this time, burbot
move into shallow waters,
congregating in large
numbers over sandy, or
gravelly bottoms chasing
crawdads. This makes them
a little easier to catch and
increases the chances of
being successful.
