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Burbot
Lota lota
15–22 inches
Typical Length
1–4 lbs
Typical Weight
Year-round (no closed season)
Season Opens
3%
% of MN Lakes
The burbot is Minnesota's only freshwater cod — an oddball bottom-dweller that spawns under the ice in midwinter. Often overlooked, burbot are gaining a following among adventurous anglers for their excellent, lobster-like meat.
Habitat
Burbot inhabit deep, cold lakes and rivers in northern Minnesota. They're strictly bottom-dwellers, preferring rocky and rubble substrates in deep water. They move shallow during their unusual midwinter spawning period.
When to Fish
Best months: January, February, March
Season opens: Year-round (no closed season)
Burbot are most active in the coldest months, making them a prime ice-fishing target. They spawn communally under ice in January-February. Night fishing is most productive as they're nocturnal feeders.
Did You Know?
- Burbot are the only freshwater member of the cod family — their flesh has a similar texture and is sometimes called 'poor man's lobster.'
- They spawn in midwinter, writhing in large communal balls under the ice — one of the most unusual spawning behaviors of any freshwater fish.
- Burbot have a single chin barbel, giving them an eel-like appearance that earns them nicknames like 'eelpout' and 'lawyer fish.'
Minnesota State Record
19 lbs 3 oz (Lake of the Woods, 1979)
Lakes with Burbot near you
93 Minnesota lakes have Burbot on record. Find the closest ones to you.
Burbot (Lota lota) is a gamefish species found in Minnesota lakes and rivers. DNR surveys have documented burbot in 93 Minnesota lakes. The Minnesota state record is 19 lbs 3 oz (Lake of the Woods, 1979).