Burbot ? The freshwater Cod

[G-Man]

I know they are in Lake Roosevelt. Haven't caught one myself but have seen them as a by-catch of walleye fishermen when fishing early morning out of Seven Bays.

[kevinb]

Lake Kachees had Burbot for years.I know that they did a big poison of the lake a few years ago .I dont know if Burbot were put back in or not.

I personally have never caught one but fish this lake often.I run into many anglers that catch a ton of these guys...and big.
I can't say if its the best lake for burbot but it seems to have plenty.I wouldn't mind targeting a few.

[Kfedka]

I am interested in hitting Hawk Creek on Lake Roosevelt for some Burbot. Six or so years ago I was fishing for trout and had caught an 16 incher or so, in some of the deeper waters. Any recommendations as to what to use, I've heard people using meat from other fish to catch them on the bottom.

[Bodofish]

I believe the accepted technique is to long line for them. Set your gear out over night and pull it in the morning. I've never fished for them but I have long lined and I've read they only eat at night. I would think hearing chunks or sonething along that line would get them to bite. OH and DEEP.

[Anonymous]

Double check regs regarding set lines as I think they have been banned in this State. Under "tackle" for general rules it states that all gear must be kept under immediate supervision and no more than 3 hooks per line. The "set lines may be used when fishing for burbot" statement has been purged from the regs.

As for bait I've heard fresh chicken or beef liver works great as do night crawlers. Someone posted reports of catching them at the mouth of the Sanpoil river last year, but I can't seem to find it. I think shrimp meat may have involved as well. The guy fished at night and they seemed to come into the shallow water at that time.

[Kfedka]

Hear are some reports from last year.

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/ya ... aspx#94508
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... id=456&t=5
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... id=456&t=5

PDF file of info on Burbot in Lake Roosevelt, Lots of data mainly; http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/org_NWS/NWSci ... t%20al.pdf

Anyone know if water temperature makes a difference as to what time of year they bite best?

[Bodofish]

After a eye bleeding read of the regs it doesn't spell out one way or the other any information on long lining. If you had control of one end of the line you could put out three leaders with three hooks. Limit being 5 fish per day. Now do you get 5 before midnight and 5 after??? If there was a change it must have been in the last year. While pulling my boat from Lake Cle Elum in 08 I was told by a guide and the WDFG guy that people used long lines to fish Butbot in Cle Elum. Put'em in before sunset and pull'em up at first light. The Maks will feast if you leave them out after light. As a general rule they're very deep except when they're about to spawn. When do they spawn?????? I was shown on the map to set lines in the trenches at about 300'

[Bodofish]

[quote="Kfedka"]Hear are some reports from last year.

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/ya ... aspx#94508
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... id=456&t=5
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... id=456&t=5

PDF file of info on Burbot in Lake Roosevelt, Lots of data mainly]

In many areas, not WA, people ice fish for them in the winter and other techniques in the summer so I'd bet they bite most of the time.

[fishaholictaz]

Here in WY they ice fish for them all the time and catch a lot of them... I got to run to class I will give more info when I get home

[AdsBot [Google]]

Don't tell anyone, but they're in Palmer Lake in Okanogan County also. I have seen some big fish pictures from there (30" to 36") and am told they eat great!

[Anonymous]

In my article we talk about set lines - which as of that date were legal in CHelan and Cle Elum. Don't know now. As far as rod catching, my understanding is the most effective technique is jigging with tipped liver, worm, or some such meaty attractant. I did catch one on Chelan using this technique, until Anton Jones said enough of this folling around and got us back to trolling for lakers. With today's super thin braided line that's how I would target these fish.

Set lines in my opinion were a real pain and not something I'd bother with again. not that interested in getting extra fish meat, which is really al it's for.

[YellowBear]

This is a good time to hit Hawk creek.
Head down were the creek makes a hard left turn.
There should be a bouy there, fish around that bouy with crawlers.
I would fish during the day and catch good numbers there.
I have caught them at 7-bays and Fort Spokane and as far up the Spokane arm as mile marker 11.
Fillet and skin them and stick them in a steamer.
Melt some butter with a bit of Garlic, dip and enjoy.
Freshwater ling.
Burbot.
eel pout.
lota-lota.
Dogfish what ever name you give them, they are well worth catching.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

After a eye bleeding read of the regs it doesn't spell out one way or the other any information on long lining. If you had control of one end of the line you could put out three leaders with three hooks. Limit being 5 fish per day. Now do you get 5 before midnight and 5 after??? If there was a change it must have been in the last year. While pulling my boat from Lake Cle Elum in 08 I was told by a guide and the WDFG guy that people used long lines to fish Butbot in Cle Elum. Put'em in before sunset and pull'em up at first light. The Maks will feast if you leave them out after light. As a general rule they're very deep except when they're about to spawn. When do they spawn?????? I was shown on the map to set lines in the trenches at about 300'

Set lines were legal in 2005-2006 and before. They changed the regs back around 2007 to make set lines illegal.

Here's what the 2005-2006 WDFW regs pamphlet said:

"BURBOT (FRESHWATER LING) No min. size. Daily limit 5. Set lines with not more than 5 hooks may be used where listed in the Special Rules. Set lines must be clearly identifi ed with the angler's name and address."


Here's what the 2006-2007 regs said:

"BURBOT (FRESHWATER LING) No min. size. Daily limit 5. (Set lines no longer allowed)."


Here's what the current 2009-2010 regs say:

"BURBOT (FRESHWATER LING) No min. size. Daily limit 5."

[fiznwtrs]

Yellow bear thanks for the info. Probably ten guys fishing there now already lol. We used to hike just over the hill to the eddie and fish at night catching up to six pounders hten we got skunked two years in a row and haven't been back since. Is the campground open year round? Watch out for the raccoons they were quite the pests at night as i remember. ..fiz

[Kfedka]

I'm planning on hitting the Burbots next weekend. Let you guys know how I do, keep an eye out on the reports.

[Kfedka]

Well I went last night for Burbots, overall a little slow. Maybe cause I missed over 5 bites, it being my first time fishing for them takes a little to figure out how they bite and how to hook them up. Look for it in the reports.

They like that deep water, but I heard that people were able to catch them in not so deep water on fish guts. Have yet to fry them, will fry them up for dinner.

[Mike Carey]

let us know what you think of them, the ones I ate were pretty good.

[Kfedka]

Ok, this is the one of the ways I cooked it vMdD8egU_ac

Cut up in small pieces, boil in pot for 5 minutes, remove fish from pot and drain water, melt butter and put fish back in pot with butter for a few minute adding season salt. This turned out very delicious reminds me of eating lobster at Red Lobster.

The second way it prepared it was frying in a pan. First dipped in flour then fried in small amount of oil. It tasted great also, but not as good as when I boiled it, maybe needed to fry it in butter instead of oil.

[saltyseadog]

butter makes it better:dwarf:

[CRANDALL]

15 YEARS AGO I LIVED IN KETTLE FALLS AND I USED TO FISH FOR LINGS AT NIGHT ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND IN THE WINTER. WE FISHED AT THE MOUTH OF THE COLVILLE RIVER AND WE CAUGHT QUITE A FEW FISH JUST USING NIGHT CRAWLERS.