Catching burbot
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 05/21/2008 06:15:49 PM MDT
Burbot at the Gorge are plentiful and fairly easy to catch, once you find them. The best fishing for burbot is on the northern end of the 91-mile reservoir in Wyoming.
The most effective method is vertically jigging with glowing jigs at night off rocky cliffs in 20 to 60 feet of water. Some people tip the jigs with sucker meat.
Winter is probably the most productive time to fish for burbot at the Gorge. Ice anglers this past winter did very well, with 30-fish nights not uncommon.
In the spring and fall, anglers should fish off cliffs walls. Jigging has to be done deeper in the summer months, when burbot head down to 60 or 70 feet to stay in cold water.
There is no limit on burbot in either Utah or Wyoming. In Utah, it is illegal to release any burbot caught. Wyoming is working on a similar regulation.
Utah is proposing a change that would allow anglers to fish with up to six poles when ice fishing at Flaming Gorge without a second pole permit in 2009. The idea is to increase the take of burbot.
The use of live bait is illegal on both sides of the reservoir.
A reciprocal stamp (Wyoming stamp for a Utah angler or a Utah stamp for a Wyoming angler) or state fishing license is required to fish either side of the reservoir.
Source: Robb Keith, fisheries biologist for Wyoming Game and Fish
Mmm Winter at night on the Gorge sounds like a very chilling experience. Inside a shelter with a pair of heaters going it would be like -30 below 0 … Maybe if I get a power auger this year I way make that drive and try them next year.
Burbot can be fished from a boat just a easily as on the ice. Catching Burbot during the warm months is as productive as winter angling. The presentation is exactly the same. What does this mean? Don’t wait till winter to catch burbot. Do it throughout the year.
Yea but i only have a 12ft boat. I do not know the gorge well enough or for that reason at all. I am hoping to go up and play in some of the bays this year where i can run to shore it the big blow starts up. Any other info you could share I will greatly take.
The same areas that produced through the ice will produce in the warm weather months. Any rocky shoreline will produce Burbot. Firehole, Lost Dog, Buckboard (near the ramp), etc will all be great bets.
You can either anchor up or use an electric troll motor to stay in position while you are fishing. With an electric, you can cover ground while fishing and hopefully find them.
As for your 12 foot boat, you should have no problems. Stay close to the ramps if you feel that is prudent. On a warm summer’s evening when it is calm, you should have a lot of fun searching for and catching plenty of burbot.
I was up there last year and actually fell asleep in my tent while ice fishing. It doesn’t take much to keep those things comfy. I even awoke to a burbot on my pole.
I am really happy that you put this info up. The burbot are really increasing there. I will be trying different techniques this summer and fall at the Gorge. I will try and catch as many as I can.
Drew Cushing (UDWR) will be trying special trolling and jigging techniques for them I think in late July or August, when the DWR is suppose to do some netting and surverys. I will look forward to his report.
No doubt about it, fishing for them is a unique and challenging experience. And, not only are you helping to keep them in check, but they are great eating.
Just wondering…if you put one of those little bells on your rod to let you know when you have a bite…is that DING-A-LINGING?
Another good read in the Trib this morning: