Basic burbot fishing tips

[kaos12fly]

For the past two winters, I've wanted to find a weekend to go and fish for burbot.  Weather this weekend is making it look like it may finally happen.  Having never fished for them, I was looking for a few basic tips/confirmation of the basic information I have heard of. 

I've read posts from people in other locations that in February-March, burbot begin to move into shallower waters to spawn.  Does this tend to hold true in Champlain as well?  I've also read the bite tends to begin right around sunset and then continues strong through the rest of the early night.

I know burbot in general love to be tight to some surface, especially in rock piles.  From that I've figured finding rock piles to fish over would be a good place to start.  From there I was figuring to take some dead minnows or other bait and just drop it on the bottom off of my tipups.  I figure they aren't too finicky, but any tips on what has been successful for other people would be greatly appreciated!

[vtpike]

Can't speak for Champlain, but Burbot on Willoughby(and several lakes in Maine) 20 to 60 fow fish live or dead bait right on the bottom after dark..should do the trick!

[RipSomeLips22]

ive tried for burbot twice and havent  had luck, only caught lakers! dont let it discourage you, keep trying and rip some lips when you can!

[cbice]

It sounds like you already have a pretty good idea what to do.  I've caught some at dusk during that last hour of daylight when I was targeting other species.  I've got them in beach/gravel areas.

[fishingidjit]

Easy fish to catch,dead bait on the bottom.Any hook/leader set-up will do.Dusk on is the time for them .

[troutslayer 23]

not a picky fish at all sight is poor and they eat by smell kinda like cats i use a 1 inch chunck of smelt threaded on a treb with a 12 inch leader and a egg sinker ull slay them!!!!!!!! usually in 20-30 ft of water

[camo ninja]

dead bait on the bottom...I use bigger hooks (like eagle claw 6s ?) and a good sized sinker
check them every 15 minutes and you'll usually have at least one
might go out saturday night on willoughby if someone wants to tag along

[keithm87]

I would go if I didn't work Saturday... I am shooting for Sunday to go out.

[cbice]

dead bait on the bottom...I use bigger hooks (like eagle claw 6s ?) and a good sized sinker
check them every 15 minutes and you'll usually have at least one
might go out saturday night on willoughby if someone wants to tag along

Yeah checking your tip-ups often is a good idea.  It's nt uncmmon to puul up to go home and have a smaller one on that never tripped the flag.  Granted, that's what happens when I'm set up with heavier gear for pike.