I have never been Burbot fishing...but I've been fantasizing about it for nearly 2 decades. Every night since I've been back in Montana I pass 1 if not 2 Ling fishermen on my way home at night. It is intriguing; the methods, the science, the art, the recipes, the legends, and the fish itself.Burbot, Lota lota, and the less common Lota maclosa, are native to Montana waters and adored by all that fish for them. Sometimes called poor mans lobster, you may overhear old timers speak of them during waning hours at your local watering hole. Here in Craig, it's at Joe's Bar...where everybody is kin.
Nicknames for Burbot include...
Ling
Mudblow
Lawyer Fish
Freshwater Cod
Lush
Loche
Eelpout
Poorman's Lobster
Cusk
The world record for Burbot is 24# 12oz. The Montana record is 17.08# and measured 39" caught on the Missouri near Wolf Point 4/18/89 by Jeff Iwen. It is a native fish and there is some concern about the health of the population. The Kootenai River population has dwindled to about 60 fish. The dams have wreaked havoc in the spawning rituals and habitat. There are plenty, according to FWP here on the blue ribbon stretch near Craig, and are currently trapping Burbot for research reasons. I will try to get an update and pass the news on to you folks.
The best time to fish for Ling is right now. They love cold, deep water, darkness, and dead bait. Spawning time is late February for about 6 weeks. I guess this is the time to get 'em. They are primarily nocturnal feeders and their diet includes bait fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects, plankton, and fish eggs. As they mature to spawning age their feeding preference becomes bait fish.
I have gleaned all of my Burbot technique information from drunken conversations @ both Joe's and Oosterman's in Prewett Creek. Here is my understanding on how to approach the elusive Burbot.
Start with a vicious buzz. Get to the bar early in the afternoon, or at the crack of noon, and proceed to buy rounds for yourself and any fishing guide within ear shot. Drink until midnight and make your plan while offending everyone in the tavern. Get a couple cases of PBR to go, cash out, or try to convince the bar keep to extend your tab til next week. Take a cab to the nearest wood pile, pilfer approx. 1/4 cord, toss it in the trunk of the cab while giggling like a little girl. Pop a freshy, offer one to the cabby, and cruise to the Ling hole. Stumble out of the taxi, unload fire wood and spin gear on beach and build a kick-ass fire. The fire is essential for not only heat, but to draw the fish in.
Next on the list is to catch a sucker. The definition of a sucker is any non game fish...like a whitefish, true sucker, or anything that inhales the nightcrawler. Chop up the sucker into chunks...I guess the dark meat is the best for Burbot bait...the cheek meat is supposed to be just killer. Rig your Ling Pole with a heavy weight, 1/2 ounce is good, swivel and 18"-24" of flourocarbon tippet to the hook. Toss out in the water, set in pole holder, pop another cold one, and throw 4 or 5 more pieces of wood on the fire.
Now bait and wait, on the edge of your $4.99 lawn chair. The takes can be very subtle. Most pros open the bail and if the fish takes a 1/4 turn of line off the spool, gently lift rod out of holder, wait for another nudge, and set the hook like your trying to break your pole. Then just reel in. They don't fight much...but be prepared to whack on the head as you remove from the water. Toss up on the shore and re-bait your line and repeat.
That is how you get 'em. They are good baked with a little butter, salt & pepper, wrapped in tinfoil on the BBQ/or slathered in mayonnaise. It's good fried too. I like to fry it with a combo of regular fry batter and pancake batter. It gives a nice touch of sweetness. But the ultimate Ling meal is Burbot Cakes. Try the recipe below and enjoy the best meal you've had in weeks.
Mudblow
Lawyer Fish
Freshwater Cod
Lush
Loche
Eelpout
Poorman's Lobster
Cusk
The world record for Burbot is 24# 12oz. The Montana record is 17.08# and measured 39" caught on the Missouri near Wolf Point 4/18/89 by Jeff Iwen. It is a native fish and there is some concern about the health of the population. The Kootenai River population has dwindled to about 60 fish. The dams have wreaked havoc in the spawning rituals and habitat. There are plenty, according to FWP here on the blue ribbon stretch near Craig, and are currently trapping Burbot for research reasons. I will try to get an update and pass the news on to you folks.
The best time to fish for Ling is right now. They love cold, deep water, darkness, and dead bait. Spawning time is late February for about 6 weeks. I guess this is the time to get 'em. They are primarily nocturnal feeders and their diet includes bait fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects, plankton, and fish eggs. As they mature to spawning age their feeding preference becomes bait fish.
I have gleaned all of my Burbot technique information from drunken conversations @ both Joe's and Oosterman's in Prewett Creek. Here is my understanding on how to approach the elusive Burbot.
Start with a vicious buzz. Get to the bar early in the afternoon, or at the crack of noon, and proceed to buy rounds for yourself and any fishing guide within ear shot. Drink until midnight and make your plan while offending everyone in the tavern. Get a couple cases of PBR to go, cash out, or try to convince the bar keep to extend your tab til next week. Take a cab to the nearest wood pile, pilfer approx. 1/4 cord, toss it in the trunk of the cab while giggling like a little girl. Pop a freshy, offer one to the cabby, and cruise to the Ling hole. Stumble out of the taxi, unload fire wood and spin gear on beach and build a kick-ass fire. The fire is essential for not only heat, but to draw the fish in.
Next on the list is to catch a sucker. The definition of a sucker is any non game fish...like a whitefish, true sucker, or anything that inhales the nightcrawler. Chop up the sucker into chunks...I guess the dark meat is the best for Burbot bait...the cheek meat is supposed to be just killer. Rig your Ling Pole with a heavy weight, 1/2 ounce is good, swivel and 18"-24" of flourocarbon tippet to the hook. Toss out in the water, set in pole holder, pop another cold one, and throw 4 or 5 more pieces of wood on the fire.
Now bait and wait, on the edge of your $4.99 lawn chair. The takes can be very subtle. Most pros open the bail and if the fish takes a 1/4 turn of line off the spool, gently lift rod out of holder, wait for another nudge, and set the hook like your trying to break your pole. Then just reel in. They don't fight much...but be prepared to whack on the head as you remove from the water. Toss up on the shore and re-bait your line and repeat.
That is how you get 'em. They are good baked with a little butter, salt & pepper, wrapped in tinfoil on the BBQ/or slathered in mayonnaise. It's good fried too. I like to fry it with a combo of regular fry batter and pancake batter. It gives a nice touch of sweetness. But the ultimate Ling meal is Burbot Cakes. Try the recipe below and enjoy the best meal you've had in weeks.
Burbot Cakes
1# Fresh Burbot
1/4 C chopped red pepper
1/4 C chopped green pepper
1 stalk celery
2 large shallot
2 1/2 oz Grey Poupon
4 oz mayonnaise
1/2 C bread crumbs
1/2 T Old Bay Seasoning
Saute vegetables until translucent. Cool. Add all ingredients to a bowl and softly combine. Heat grill to medium high and cook until golden brown, flip, and serve.
A light mayo-mustard sauce is nice whipped with white wine and served with toast points makes a nice presentation.
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2 comments:
Check out Alaska's videos about how to catch burbot and how to fillet burbot.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=anglereducation.burbot
Check out Alaska's videos about how to catch burbot and how to fillet burbot.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=anglereducation.burbot
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