If that first-time Montana ice fishing story we shared the other day (click here) proved anything, it’s that burbot are the perfect introduction to winter fishing chaos—and honestly, that’s kind of their charm. Known lovingly (and accurately) as the poor man’s lobster, burbot look like something dreamed up in a sci-fi movie but eat like royalty. They’re native across Montana’s major river drainages, thrive in cold, deep water, and do things backward compared to most fish—like spawning under the ice in the dead of winter. They are nocturnal, slimy, shameless, and wildly underrated at the dinner table, which explains why once anglers catch one, they’re either instantly hooked… or slightly traumatized.
Behind their interesting looks and ice-fishing stories, burbot are actually doing just fine overall in Montana. Their populations here are generally stable, with some ups and downs in certain areas, and they are essentially considered secure. Their biggest challenges come from altered waterways and getting stuck in irrigation canals—but nothing currently points to major declines. These fish roam big rivers and cold lakes, feed aggressively, mature fast, and show up year after year beneath the ice, waiting patiently for someone willing to sit in the cold long enough. In other words, if that first-time Montana angler’s ice trip taught anything, it is this: burbot are weird, resilient, delicious—and absolutely what winter fishing in Montana is all about for many.
Have you ever caught a burbot in Montana? If so, what were your GPS coordinates? Just kidding!
Photo credit: MPS Images
