# Burbot Fishing: Seasonal Patterns & Bite Windows

Burbot feed most actively in water between 39-55°F. Depth shifts with the season — anywhere from 5 ft to 70 ft deep depending on where they are in the yearly cycle. Burbot feed most actively at Night, when activity runs about 30% above the daily average across all four light windows.

## How big do burbot get, and when do they spawn?

- **Spawn:** January to March, when water reaches 33-40°F
- **Typical size:** 16-28 in · 3-5 lb
- **Trophy size:** 28-33 in · 8-19.6 lb
- **Lifespan:** 10-15 yr
- **Diet:** A night-hunting fish eater — small perch, walleye and other fish — plus crayfish, fish eggs, clams and mayfly larvae, especially when young.
- **Habitat:** Deep, cold northern lakes and large rivers, on the bottom — among rock crevices or over deep mud flats. Nearly dormant in summer; most active under the ice.
- **How to identify:** Long and eel-like with smooth skin, a single barbel under the chin, a short first dorsal fin and long second dorsal and anal fins running back to a rounded tail — a catfish or bullhead has several whiskers.
- **Notable record:** Minnesota state record 19 lb 10 oz, 33 in, Lake of the Woods, caught through the ice (2016)

## What depth do burbot hold, season by season?

Burbot feed most consistently in water between 39-55°F. Depth below is where the fish typically hold at each stage of the year.

| Season | Depth |
| --- | --- |
| Pre-Spawn | 10-40 ft |
| Spawn | 15-45 ft |
| Post-Spawn | 20-55 ft |
| Summer | 30-70 ft |
| Fall | 15-50 ft |
| Winter | 5-40 ft |

## When do burbot feed during the day?

Burbot feed most actively at Night, when activity runs about 30% above the daily average across all four light windows.

| Time of day | Modifier | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dawn | 1.30x | Boosts feeding activity by about 30%. |
| Daytime | 0.50x | Suppresses feeding activity by about 50%. |
| Dusk | 1.30x | Boosts feeding activity by about 30%. |
| Night | 1.50x | Boosts feeding activity by about 50%. |

## How do barometric pressure and wind affect the burbot bite?

How far the model moves a burbot score away from this fish's baseline for each pressure trend and wind band. These are modeled multipliers, not a measured feeding response — the evidence behind each input is graded below.

### Barometric pressure

| Trend | Modifier | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Falling | 1.00x | Modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. |
| Stable | 1.00x | Modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. |
| Rising | 1.00x | Modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. |

Barometric pressure is graded "Contested" in every report we produce: The barometric effect is real to most anglers but small and contested in the literature — several of the species studies cited in this model report null results — so it carries one of the smallest weights here.

### Wind

| Band | Modifier | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calm (0-5 mph) | 1.00x | Modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. |
| Light (5-10 mph) | 1.00x | Modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. |
| Moderate (10-20 mph) | 1.00x | Modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. |
| Strong (20+ mph) | 1.00x | Modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. |

Wind is graded "Moderately supported" in every report we produce: Wind stacks forage on windward structure, but both the size and the direction of the effect depend on the species and the water, so it carries a modest weight.

## What cover and structure do burbot prefer?

Burbot carry the heaviest modeled preference for rock & rubble. Each figure below is a 0-1 preference weight from this fish's own cited data, strongest first — not a measured catch rate.

- Rock & rubble (1.00)
- Open sand & gravel (0.70)
- Submerged wood (0.50)
- Weed edges (0.40)

## Common questions

### What depth do burbot hold in pre-spawn?

In pre-spawn, burbot typically hold 10-40 ft deep.

### What depth do burbot hold in spawn?

In spawn, burbot typically hold 15-45 ft deep.

### What depth do burbot hold in post-spawn?

In post-spawn, burbot typically hold 20-55 ft deep.

### What depth do burbot hold in summer?

In summer, burbot typically hold 30-70 ft deep.

### What depth do burbot hold in fall?

In fall, burbot typically hold 15-50 ft deep.

### What depth do burbot hold in winter?

In winter, burbot typically hold 5-40 ft deep.

### What water temperature do burbot prefer?

Burbot are most active in water between 39-55°F.

### What time of day are burbot most active?

Burbot feed most actively at Night, when activity runs about 30% above the daily average across all four light windows.

### How does barometric pressure affect the burbot bite?

Falling pressure modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. Stable pressure modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. Rising pressure modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. These are modeled multipliers, not a measured feeding response. Barometric pressure is graded "Contested" in every report we produce: The barometric effect is real to most anglers but small and contested in the literature — several of the species studies cited in this model report null results — so it carries one of the smallest weights here.

### How does wind affect burbot fishing?

Calm wind modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. Light wind modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. Moderate wind modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. Strong wind modeled flat — no change from this fish's baseline. These are modeled multipliers, not a measured feeding response. Wind is graded "Moderately supported" in every report we produce: Wind stacks forage on windward structure, but both the size and the direction of the effect depend on the species and the water, so it carries a modest weight.

### When do burbot spawn?

Burbot spawn January to March, triggered when water temperatures reach 33-40°F. The exact weeks shift with latitude, but the temperature cue holds.

### How big do burbot get?

A typical burbot runs 16-28 in · 3-5 lb; a trophy is 28-33 in · 8-19.6 lb. Notable record: Minnesota state record 19 lb 10 oz, 33 in, Lake of the Woods, caught through the ice (2016).

### What do burbot eat?

A night-hunting fish eater — small perch, walleye and other fish — plus crayfish, fish eggs, clams and mayfly larvae, especially when young.

## Other species guides

- [Walleye](/fishing/walleye)
- [Largemouth Bass](/fishing/largemouth-bass)
- [Smallmouth Bass](/fishing/smallmouth-bass)
- [Northern Pike](/fishing/northern-pike)
- [Bluegill](/fishing/bluegill)
- [Black Crappie](/fishing/black-crappie)
- [Rock Bass](/fishing/rock-bass)
- [Pumpkinseed](/fishing/pumpkinseed)
- [Yellow Perch](/fishing/yellow-perch)
- [Muskellunge](/fishing/muskellunge)
- [Channel Catfish](/fishing/channel-catfish)
- [Black Bullhead](/fishing/black-bullhead)
- [Yellow Bullhead](/fishing/yellow-bullhead)
- [Brown Bullhead](/fishing/brown-bullhead)
- [Green Sunfish](/fishing/green-sunfish)
- [Bowfin](/fishing/bowfin)
- [Cisco](/fishing/cisco)
- [White Crappie](/fishing/white-crappie)