IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Canada => Ice Fishing Saskatchewan => Topic started by: AndyJ on Mar 02, 2018, 08:19 AM
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A technique question for the burbot guys - how do you lift them out of the hole?
We caught a bunch of them earlier this week including a 30 1/2 incher. Had to mention that. ;)
Pinching a gill cover between the thumb and index finger wouldn't work like other species because its tapered and the pinch slides off. Trying to hook the index finger into the pocket where the covers meet at the fishes centreline bottom didn't work either because its too shallow and the skin there is flexible and slimed.
Would be nice to handle fish with finesse like the pros on the fishing channel. ;D
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I just grab them as hard as I can and yank out of the hole
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two hands, like catching a football
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I usually use a short hooked gaff. I don't stick the gaff into them, but slide it into the gills and lift it out of the hole. That way I can return them to the water unharmed if I want.
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I just lip em like a bass.
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I just lip em like a bass.
Best way there is. They have teeth like sandpaper which do next to no harm to your thumb
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Just poke a thumb in their mouth and lift or if using one of my pike rods just pull them up onto the ice.
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Thanks for the tips guys.
I just lip em like a bass.
I thought about that. The big burbot had a mouth that could have swallowed my fist to the elbow. A swimming stomach.
That one handed technique frees the plier hand. I'll do that next time.
And next to no harm to the thumb brownfish. :)
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those big ones are sure impressive. i caught one years ago that was just under 13lbs... looked like it had swallowed a basketball!
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Run a heavy braid/floro combo and just pull em onto the ice. If the line or lure comes out at the hole, hit your knees and two hand it fast!
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No big nasty teeth in those mouths, more like sandpaper. :woot:
I also do the bass grab on the bigger ones or grab behind the pectoral fins on the small ones.
WW
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I just lip em like a bass.
X2
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Where we fish, we use chunks of smelt, and they absolutely inhale those. Makes it tough to release one, though. As others have said, they have zero teeth, so lip 'em if you can. The ones we have in Montana have a habit of locking their jaws shut like a vice grip upon contact with the surface, which makes lipping them a bit of a challenge. Depending on the size of the fish, we typically just horse the slimy devils out of the water.