I was born and raised in Wisconsin and caught lots of burbot "laywers." I could never figure out why they were considered trash fish there, but I'm pretty sure it's the water quality... We would catch a fair number of them fishing lakes Poyan, Butte des Mortes, Winneseptic, Michigan, and Fox River. Usually caught them at night while walleye fishing, and REALLY caught them in the spring during the annual spawning runs!