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Burbot

Burbot

Burbot are Michigan's only freshwater member of the cod family, native to the Great Lakes and cold northern waters.

Population concerns exist statewide, with angler reports of declining catches attributed to invasive zebra mussels reducing nutrients and overharvesting during spawning.

Scientific Name: Lota lota

Physical Characteristics:
  • These distinctive fish have an eel-like appearance with long, slender bodies, a single chin barbel (whisker), two dorsal fins, and mottled brown coloration with leopard-like patterns.
  • They can grow up to 40 inches long.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • They prefer the deeper, colder waters of Michigan's Great Lakes and larger inland systems.
  • They spawn in winter in shallow areas (8-20 feet) before returning to deep, cold waters.

Key Locations

  • Prime Michigan locations include Little Bay De Noc, Big Bay De Noc, Grand Traverse Bay, Green Bay, Thunder Bay near Alpena, and Washington Island areas of Lake Michigan, plus Keweenaw, Huron, and Munising Bays on Lake Superior.
  • They inhabit Michigan's Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, and Huron) and larger inland systems like Saginaw Bay, Lake Michigamme, and the inland waterway including Burt and Mullet Lakes in northern Lower Peninsula.
  • They also inhabit tributaries of Saginaw Bay and rivers with Great Lakes connections like the Ford River.

Specific Spots

  • Target structure like rocky reefs, humps, and drop-offs adjacent to deep water.
  • Summer fishing requires targeting much deeper water (200+ feet) where they suspend or relate to bottom structure.

Burbot FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Burbot in Michigan?

Top lures include Big Nasty Tackle Trout-N-Pout spoons (1-1/8 oz in green or red glow), Moonshine Lures casting spoons (3/4 oz Yellow Gobi pattern), and phosphorescent jigging spoons that glow. Use heavy jigs for summer fishing.

When is the best time to fish for Burbot in Michigan?

Ice fishing season from late December through March is most productive. Winter spawning period from December to February should be avoided for fishing to protect vulnerable spawning aggregations. Summer fishing requires targeting much deeper water.

How do you catch Burbot in Michigan?

Essential technique involves aggressive bottom pounding - slam lures into bottom to stir sediment and create noise, lift 2-4 feet and let crash back down, then dance the lure before pausing. This attracts burbot from distance and triggers strikes during the pause. For ice fishing, jig aggressively then pause.

What do Burbot eat?

These nocturnal predators are primarily piscivorous, feeding on round gobies (which have become a dominant food source), sculpins, alewives, yellow perch, lake whitefish, emerald shiners, and various invertebrates including crayfish.

Where do Burbot live in Michigan?

They prefer the deeper, colder waters of Michigan's Great Lakes and larger inland systems. They spawn in winter in shallow areas (8-20 feet) before returning to deep, cold waters.

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