Anyone fish for Burbot in Wisconsin?

[RiverB]

Hi,

I grew up in the midwest before moving to Alaska.  Up here, people love to fish for burbot.  Check out these videos: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=anglereducation.burbot

I'll take deep-fried, beer-battered burbot over any other fish any day, including salmon and halibut.  And I know in Minnesota, people go crazy over burbot (except they call them eelpout there).  But what about Wisconsin?  I know they're down there in Lake Michigan.  Does anyone go for 'em? 

[CrappieNutJustin]

i caught one while walleye fishing up on the turtle flambeau flowage 10 years ago but dont really go after them

[Perchand Destroy]

They have the big festival over in mud duck land

http://www.eelpoutfestival.com/

All I can say is eeeewe....

Maybe if I ate one before seeing it come out of a hole I would consider it. My natural instinct would be to beat it with a stick and throw it out on the ice. Do you clean them like catfish? Never mind, I don't think I want to know, I will stick with perch.

[Dodad]

I got a half dozen last year while fishing walleye on Winnebago. Ugly, slimy and we call'em fresh water lobster!!!!!

[RiverB]

Yeah, it's pretty similar to catfish.  Check out the video at Alaska's site that shows the guy filleting one > http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=anglereducation.burbot

That's a nice trick to pull all the skin off first and then pull off the fins with a pair of pliers.  After that, he gets an impressive amount of meat off that fish.  Burbot are freshwater cod, so they taste great.  If you've ever seen cod from the ocean, they wouldn't win a beauty contest either.  But yeah, they're good eatin'.

[pfscott]

I'd love to find some within an hour of home, but I haven't heard of any near me. if anyone knows, holler. Prairie Farm, Wi.

[meier247]

there all over the Mississippi and Wisconsin river if that's close to you guys?

[meier247]

Sorry im thinking of bowfin totally different sorry again lol i feel dumb now

[Jiginitis]

I've caught some out of the black river

[Laker 11]

We used to get them perch fishing years ago on Green Bay and Little Sturgeon Bay all the time. I still ice fish this same area and they are just not as common to catch anymore but still hear of some catches.

[RapShack]

I've caught some out of the black river

No, you caught some bowfin out of the black river.

[Jiginitis]

Eelpout same thing isn't it?

[KQ700]

I look at a pic of it. Are they the same as a Dogfish? They sure look like one.

[fishmunkee]

Burbot and dogfish are very different fish albeit they look superficially alike. Lots of threads on this and other sites that go into detail.

[cousin eddie]

We caught several last year perch fishing on Winnebago as well.  I know in a month or so they will be spawning on the reefs on Winnebago and that is when people who target them will start catching them by the dozens.  We got into a bunch below a dam last year fishing for walleyes in February.  Couldn't keep those guys off the hook.