What fish can be taken in unlimited numbers all year long, is particularly accessible in winter, and makes a great main ingredient for traditional fish and chips? If you said the burbot, or freshwater ling, you're an exception. One of the most widely distributed cool-water fish in the world, it's found in all suitable habitats of North American and continental Eurasia. It's relatively unknown and anglers who do catch one often done appreciate its good qualities. Its ugly looks work against it. An unpopular catch Ling resemble a cross between an eel and a cod, and most winter anglers who catch one recoil in disgust and discard the fish. Its lonesome chin whisker, highlighting a wide, raspy mouth, and its slippery, fine-scaled body don't help matters. But beauty is in the mind of the beholder. I think its sinewy shape and mottled-brown colouring are attractive. Why worry about what they look like? They're great to eat, and there are plenty of untapped burbot fisheries. Unless you angle specifically for them, however, chances are you'll only encounter the occasional burbot while ice fishing for lake trout or whitefish near bottom. In fact, if your favourite winter lake holds these more popular fish, there are probably ling, too. Winter ling fishing is hardly a high-tech activity, as the pursuit of other fish has often been turned into. The few serious ling anglers I know fish at night, when ling prowl for food, with simple minnow regs set on bottom in the same areas inhabited by lake trout and whitefish. In winter, however, ling can also be found in shallower water. Voracious predators of small fish, ling forage widely after dark. One reason most winter anglers don't catch more ling is because they only fish during daylight, when lakers and whitefish are most active. But, staying on the ice for just a few more hours in the evening can add some ling to the day's catch. Hooking method Two- to four-inch minnows are ideal hook baits for ling. Live baitfish are best, but, as mentioned, ling have no compunction about dining on dead minnows, salted or frozen. The type of minnow doesn't matter much either, as long as it's legal to use in your area. Ling have been known to eat everything from shiners to sticklebacks. Your favourite trout or walleye balance or flag tipup will work fine for ling. Suitable bottom rigs
Please log into your OFAH Community account to access this content. Not an OFAH member or Ontario OUT of DOORS Subscriber? Follow the links below to join or subscribe and gain access to exclusive online content.
