Ice fishing for Burbot

Complete guide — gear, lures, season and tips.

Gear

Rod
Medium ice rod, 50–70 cm with a soft tip
13 Fishing Tickle Stick
Frabill Ice Hunter
Mainline
Braid 0.12 mm or mono 0.25 mm
Leader
Fluorocarbon 0.30 mm, 50 cm
Hook
Hook #1 to 2/0
Weight
Jigging spoon 15–40 g

Lures / bait

  • Glow-in-the-dark jigging spoon (Kuusamo Räsänen, Hali Glow)
  • Vertical jig tipped with a piece of fish
  • Live roach or dead herring on a hook
Season
December–February (spawning run)
Time of day
Night and late evening
Pro tip

Target shallow 2–5 m rocky bottoms and reefs where burbot move in to spawn. Glow jigs are extremely effective at night. Stay put on a productive hole through the night if the fish are there.