Burbot
EpicFreshwater
The only freshwater member of the cod family, it hunts along the bottom in icy water and feeds almost exclusively after dark. Ice anglers do best setting live bait right on bottom during the coldest months of the year.
Profile
- Fight: 4/10
- Trophy: 3/10
- Wariness: 2/10
- Abundance: 2/10
- Aggression: 3/10
- Table: 7/10
- Typical weight
- 1.3–4.4 lbs (0.6–2.0 kg)
- Record
- 17.6 lbs (8.0 kg)
Season
- Jan: 70%
- Feb: 65%
- Mar: 40%
- Apr: 20%
- May: 10%
- Jun: 8%
- Jul: 8%
- Aug: 8%
- Sep: 12%
- Oct: 25%
- Nov: 45%
- Dec: 65%
Seasonality shown is typical for temperate North America — your local waters may vary.
Time of day
- 12 AM: 70%
- 1 AM: 78%
- 2 AM: 82%
- 3 AM: 85%
- 4 AM: 80%
- 5 AM: 55%
- 6 AM: 25%
- 7 AM: 12%
- 8 AM: 8%
- 9 AM: 6%
- 10 AM: 5%
- 11 AM: 5%
- 12 PM: 6%
- 1 PM: 6%
- 2 PM: 7%
- 3 PM: 8%
- 4 PM: 12%
- 5 PM: 20%
- 6 PM: 35%
- 7 PM: 55%
- 8 PM: 70%
- 9 PM: 80%
- 10 PM: 78%
- 11 PM: 74%
Conditions
Temp34–46°F (1–8°C)
Depth16–66 ft (5–20 m)
PressureAny
LightLow light
Lures
Tips
- Burbot bite best in the coldest months, including prime targets through the ice.
- Fish live bait on the bottom after dark for the most consistent action.
- Target deep holes and channels where burbot hold during the day.
Live bite index for your spot
Vobbl scores today’s weather against this species’ profile, hour by hour, wherever you fish.