02-01-2007, 08:18 PM
There have been several catch reports by Utah and Wyoming BFT members this winter. A lot of burbot have been caught on the Gorge this year, mostly in the inflow area near Firehole and Lost Dog. There have also been some caught farther south, around Buckboard and even down in Linwood Bay, but the frequency has been much lower the farther downlake you get. What's alarming is how quickly they spread. What's good is that anglers are getting into them, keeping them, and spreading the word. I fished Firehole a couple of times this year. We caught 13 one evening and 5 on another. Fish were as big as 24 inches, which put up a good fight. I was put on to the burbot bite, by an angler from Rock Springs. He was up there, first ice, and slayed them two nights for over 40 fish!
Glow jigs and spoons tipped with sucker meat, frozen shiners, crayfish, or even dipped in smelly jelly have all produced fish. The techniques vary, but the timing is crucial. They're a low light feeder, and we didn't get a bite until around 5:00pm both nights we were there. Fish were caught inches from the bottom in 20-30 feet of water near rocky shorelines. Pretty simple actually.
The rumors are true. They are great to eat! Fried or boiled/dipped in butter have been the most popular. Research shows they are high in omega-3s and vitamins A&D. I actually feel like I'm doing the ol' body a favor by catching and eating them, if I forget that I'm cooking them in oil or butter! Good luck!
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Glow jigs and spoons tipped with sucker meat, frozen shiners, crayfish, or even dipped in smelly jelly have all produced fish. The techniques vary, but the timing is crucial. They're a low light feeder, and we didn't get a bite until around 5:00pm both nights we were there. Fish were caught inches from the bottom in 20-30 feet of water near rocky shorelines. Pretty simple actually.
The rumors are true. They are great to eat! Fried or boiled/dipped in butter have been the most popular. Research shows they are high in omega-3s and vitamins A&D. I actually feel like I'm doing the ol' body a favor by catching and eating them, if I forget that I'm cooking them in oil or butter! Good luck!
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