Advice for Burbot at McGregor?

[mtnhunter]

Hey everyone,
I've tried (unsuccessfully) to catch a burbot for the past two years and am really hoping this will be the year I can scratch this fish off my bucket list. Anyone willing to steer me in the right direction at McGregor Lake? I appreciate any advice at all! Feel free to fire me off a PM if you're willing to help a guy out.
Thanks!
MH

[EZM]

I have caught burbs either pounding a rattling rap in the mud at bottom, then holding it just above bottom with small twitches (virbrations). No bait using this method.

https://www.rapala.ca/rapala/lures-b...erticalJigging

Also had good luck with a jig (that is hollow and has a ball bearing in it) with a minnow.

https://www.acmetackle.com/products/...nt=47973825798

I found the key is pounding the mud a few times every minute or so to stir it up, and the noise.

And, it goes without saying, you need to be in the right place, the bottom part immediately off a drop off (or a hole) seems to be favorite places for burbs who sit there and lurk these areas.

[TROLLER]

Go to the far south end by the bridge.

Fish the bays and try to find 20FOW then do as EZM suggested

[mtnhunter]

Thanks guys! I'm going to give it a try!

[BarrySanky]

Honestly burbs are like bull trout they're not that hard to catch unfortunately you can't target bulls like we used to but we still can burbs. For both I've always found bacon to be very effective. It's a lot safer that way too. If you and your target species can enjoy the same snack then it's a win win. I remember years ago a buddy and i were out ice fishing all we had were smelts for bait and a cpl cans of kippers for snacks. After a few too many Jack Daniel's we got the two mixed up. It wasnt pretty. We spent the night out on the ice and at about 3 am i had to use the bathroom as my guts were doing somersaults. I awoke to darkness thinking there was a sasquatch nearby. There was this gawdawful smell and sound like I'd never heard before. Startled I put on my glasses and fumbled around looking for my light. When I turned it on there was my buddy with his pants to his ankles making a cave painting over my hole I had been fishing the previous day. I was utterly disgusted by what I saw but relieved it wasnt sasquatch. Those tv specials can give a guy a good spook from time to time. So moral of the story is just like they taught you in boy scouts be prepared. If you're gonna use bait make sure its edible as sh!t happens.

[chucklesthe3rd]

The spawn is almost here so find sand flats(I fish the south side) glow jig with a smelt and a chunk of sucker to hold it down. Goodluck!

[mtnhunter]

Thanks!

[happyfisher]

might be stupid question...is the bacon cooked or raw....LOL

[Habfan]

Originally Posted by happyfisher

might be stupid question...is the bacon cooked or raw....LOL

Cooked with a side of eggs and hash browns is the best.

[Steyr Luxus]

Chicken skin works as well.

[Steyr Luxus]

Chicken skin (raw) works as well.

[chucklesthe3rd]

Was out last night got me my limit of burbs along with a couple of walleye. Cut piece of sucker on a glow tube jig with a whole 4 inch sized sucker on a tip-up.

[queenstown kid]

Did you fry any of the walleyes and throw guts down hole to attract the ling ?

[marlin1]

Originally Posted by EZM

I have caught burbs either pounding a rattling rap in the mud at bottom, then holding it just above bottom with small twitches (virbrations). No bait using this method.

https://www.rapala.ca/rapala/lures-b...erticalJigging

Also had good luck with a jig (that is hollow and has a ball bearing in it) with a minnow.

https://www.acmetackle.com/products/...nt=47973825798

I found the key is pounding the mud a few times every minute or so to stir it up, and the noise.

And, it goes without saying, you need to be in the right place, the bottom part immediately off a drop off (or a hole) seems to be favorite places for burbs who sit there and lurk these areas.

anywhere near calgary that sells those rattle jigs ?

[mtnhunter]

Can any experienced burbot fishermen/women offer tips to catch them during daylight hours? I’ve tried banging bottom and then twitching baits/lures/jigs about a foot or two up in 12-20fow on sandy bottoms adjacent to drop-offs (deeper water).


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[mapleleafman3]

I was just reading a post on chasing Burbs through the ice at TargetWalleye.com. It might help answering some questions. At minimum, it is an interesting read.

https://targetwalleye.com/ice-fishing-burbot/

[mtnhunter]

Originally Posted by mapleleafman3

I was just reading a post on chasing Burbs through the ice at TargetWalleye.com. It might help answering some questions. At minimum, it is an interesting read.



https://targetwalleye.com/ice-fishing-burbot/

Thanks for the read! It was interesting.

I’m still curious about depth and structure to set up during daylight hours at this time of year


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[mtnhunter]

Does anyone else have advice on depth/structure to fish at this time of year for burbs and how to catch them? TIA

[mongo]

Was out last night and and eating hot dogs today.... No Ling for me

[mtnhunter]

Originally Posted by mongo

Was out last night and and eating hot dogs today.... No Ling for me

That’s been my experience too every time I go out


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[RKlein]

[QUOTE=chucklesthe3rd;4113372]Was out last night got me my limit of burbs along with a couple of walleye. Cut piece of sucker on a glow tube jig with a whole

[RKlein]

Where do you find suckers for bait

[calgarygringo]

Go catch some.

Originally Posted by RKlein

Where do you find suckers for bait

[RKlein]

Thanks for the wise advise, never ice fished for suckers!
Was wondering if any bait shops carry them.

[Triggerfish]

Originally Posted by RKlein

Thanks for the wise advise, never ice fished for suckers!
Was wondering if any bait shops carry them.

Chain lakes is my go to, you can even drive around to the other fisherman (respectfully) and ask if you can have the ones they throw on the ice. Some are too big but there is usually lots the right size for pike, big ones can be cut up for burbot

[RKlein]

Thanks will give that a try

[biggyJ]

Couple hundred feet of open water all around the bridge crossing the southern end.

Lots of ice at north end. 4 of us fished from 8ft to 24ft.

No burbs. Lots of pike and walleye.

Windy as hell on Saturday.

[chucklesthe3rd]

Originally Posted by RKlein

Where do you find suckers for bait

Nose creek, absolutely loaded with them

[RKlein]

Originally Posted by chucklesthe3rd

Nose creek, absolutely loaded with them

That's close to home
Do they spawn first thing in spring do you know?

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by RKlein

That's close to home
Do they spawn first thing in spring do you know?

Yes. They spawn early in the spring.

Use these tipped with bait. https://www.cabelas.ca/product/13959...SABEgJOQ_D_BwE

A few vigorous jigs for attracting then just slow up and down.