ND Record Burbot

[svnmag]

Just lip it like a bass and don't be a sally in front of your woman.

 

[Vollmer]

Burbot define what it means to be so ugly you're cute. And I too would guess it came from the tailrace. Back in the 80s and 90s they were really common to catch through the ice from at least New Town on up through the Williston area. Not sure how true that is anymore though, and I never caught one bigger than 8-10 lbs. Which is still quite the thing to have wrap around your arm when you pull it out of the hole.

Seriously? I did not know this. Appreciate that info.

 

[Allen]

Seriously. Catches of 20-50 burbot a day were not unusual through the ice and very early spring. In 92-94 the ice houses SE of Williston all had a pile of them on the ice going to waste as there really wasn't much in the way of wanton waste enforcement. I haven't fished that area through the ice in 5 or 6 years, so I don't know if they are still that easily found. Seemed like not many mentioned them those last few years I'd occasionally try for walleyes in that reach of Sak. They were a sure thing in the 80s if you were fishing deep and near an old channel.

Cool fish once you get past the "WTF" moment.

 

[Stinger]

Seriously. Catches of 20-50 burbot a day were not unusual through the ice and very early spring. In 92-94 the ice houses SE of Williston all had a pile of them on the ice going to waste as there really wasn't much in the way of wanton waste enforcement. I haven't fished that area through the ice in 5 or 6 years, so I don't know if they are still that easily found. Seemed like not many mentioned them those last few years I'd occasionally try for walleyes in that reach of Sak. They were a sure thing in the 80s if you were fishing deep and near an old channel.

Cool fish once you get past the "WTF" moment.

Still catch 4-5 a season up in that area.

 

[VDAWG]

I've come to enjoy the Burbot over the years. They're actually a pretty cool fish.

100%. I've only caught one, but the first thing I thought was, "Look at the cool markings!". They really are unique!

 

[JayKay]

Look just like a big salamander, but without the legs.

It's jarring though, when they wrap themselves around your arm. If you're not ready for it, it might make you cut your arm off.

I haven't caught one in years.

 

[Captain Ahab]

 

[Twitch]

Wait you can ahab a burbot…..I feel like I’ve been lied to my entire existence

 

[Captain Ahab]

Got those in the Tailrace. Caught around 20-25 burbs that afternoon. Kept 5 good ones for dining. The ones I’m holding are approximately 8lbs each. I took one over to Scott’s to get weighed. It was 8.4lbs I think.

 

[shorthairsrus]

They are cuter than a dogfish.

 

[Vollmer]

Seriously. Catches of 20-50 burbot a day were not unusual through the ice and very early spring. In 92-94 the ice houses SE of Williston all had a pile of them on the ice going to waste as there really wasn't much in the way of wanton waste enforcement. I haven't fished that area through the ice in 5 or 6 years, so I don't know if they are still that easily found. Seemed like not many mentioned them those last few years I'd occasionally try for walleyes in that reach of Sak. They were a sure thing in the 80s if you were fishing deep and near an old channel.

Cool fish once you get past the "WTF" moment.

I appreciate that information. I had no idea. I will have to get out that way and catch a few. We have caught them, fairly abundantly, on the Tailrace and I had kind of thought that was the only place a guy could catch them in the state.

 

[CatDaddy]

I've pulled small burbot out of the Sheyenne and Red Rivers

 

[Riggen&Jiggen]

I have caught them threw the ice as far east as Douglas bay. If you set up a tip up in 30ft to 40ft with 2 whole minnows and one half minnow on a treble just inches off the bottom you have a good chance to get ling along with cats. Even ice fishing the best bite for ling is at low light or dark.

 

[CatDaddy]

 

[Captain Ahab]

I've pulled small burbot out of the Sheyenne and Red Rivers

The Red can spit them out for sure. One spot I fish can have them stack up. Got 9 one day and I kept 6 of the better ones. Biggest one was maybe 4.5lbs

 

[Twitch]

Used to get them through the ice after dark on audobon and new johns too, but that was many many moons ago

 

[mtpikemaster_ron]

Used to be that you could only fish the first wingwall, so once you had it on the surface, you could walk it around to the west, and have somebody hold the rod, while you ran down on the rocks and landed it.

I used a buck too, with holes drilled in the bottom, and a couple of rocks to make it sink. I caught a big sturgeon there one time, that I couldn't get into the bucket, so had to walk it to the rocks.

Would that be below Garrison? Always wanted to go fishing out that way. Montana boy here and been interested in fishing NoDak

 

[Kurtr]

First fish I caught when I moved here was a ling. It wrapped around my arm and I was flailing around like I got shot. We used to catch them pretty often but the last 10 years or so have not caught many

 

[Vollmer]

Would that be below Garrison? Always wanted to go fishing out that way. Montana boy here and been interested in fishing NoDak

Yup

 

[svnmag]

Used to use a hoop net made from a 30in bike rim and a laundry net.

Nowaday's I think I'd try a hoop net fabricated from this with drilled holes to allow water: A rock in the bottom tends to abrade the laundry net so without a better idea I'd soak a couple cheap baseballs at home. JSYK: ALL dropped fish from the wingwalls are DEAD. The hoop must be lowered. It's a pain in the ass and I'm speaking from experience.

The bike rim sinks but still needs the baseball etc in the bottom of the net. My above/below idea would save weight.

Try vertical jigging a 1/2oz swimbait off the pier in St. Augustine...the current either pulls it below your feet or pulls it away...