Burbot across Minnesota
Limits, records and lakes for burbot.
- 4limit
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About Minnesota burbot
Burbot (Lota lota) counts among the cod family in Minnesota. Anglers may keep 4 in inland waters (statewide), Continuous.
It shows up in DNR surveys of 148 lakes (175 with pages here). Moose Lake, Cook County posted the top gill net rate, 7.67 per net.
How the DNR describes burbot
“With its slimy skin and tendency to wrap itself around your arm, the burbot is considered by many anglers to be the "ish" of fish. But this cousin to the saltwater cod, commonly known as eelpout, is a remarkable predator.”
“The burbot looks like a cross between an eel and a catfish. It has a long body with smooth skin and a single whisker under its chin.”
- It has a long body with smooth skin and a single whisker under its chin.identification
- eelpoutalso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | 4 | Continuous |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Top burbot catch rates in DNR surveys
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose Lake, Cook County | 7.67 | 1.63 | 2025 | |
| Gunflint Lake | 5 | 1.17 | 2011 | |
| Snowbank Lake | 4.25 | 1.33 | 2017 | |
| Ester Lake | 4 | 0.86 | 2018 | |
| Hanson Lake, Lake County | 4 | 0.83 | 2018 | |
| South Lake | 3.12 | 1.39 | 2023 | |
| Takucmich Lake | 2.56 | 1.01 | 2025 | |
| Pine Lake, Cook County | 2.17 | 1.95 | 2023 | |
| Little Knife Lake | 1.88 | 0.79 | 2018 | |
| Howard Lake, Cook County | 1.8 | 0.56 | 1993 | |
| West Pike Lake | 1.67 | 1.6 | 2023 | |
| Long Island Lake | 1.43 | 0.67 | 2019 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
burbot across the state
Where to fish lakes for burbot
- Lake of the Woods725,583 acres
- Rainy Lake, St. Louis County210,200 acres
- Mille Lacs Lake128,250 acres
- Red Lake (Upper Red)119,294 acres
- Leech Lake103,444 acres
- Lake Winnibigoshish56,471 acres
- Vermilion Lake39,272 acres
- Lac la Croix29,597 acres
- Namakan Lake24,066 acres
- Kabetogama Lake24,034 acres
- Saganaga Lake18,767 acres
- Cass Lake15,958 acres
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County10,360 acres
- St. Louis River Estuary10,255 acres
- Gull Lake, Cass County10,010 acres
- Bowstring Lake9,528 acres
- Sand Point Lake8,527 acres
- Island Lake Reservoir8,001 acres
- Whitefish Lake near Manhattan Beach, Crow Wing County7,714 acres
- Burntside Lake7,314 acres
- Bemidji Lake (main lake)6,596 acres
- Big Sandy Lake6,125 acres
- Woman Lake5,520 acres
Rivers and creeks for burbot
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
- St. Louis RiverSt. Louis
- Turtle RiverBeltrami
- Island RiverLake
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Species listed with burbot
- Walleyeperch family
- Saugerperch family
- Saugeyeperch family
- Yellow perchperch family
- Northern pikepike family
- Muskellungepike family
- Tiger muskellungepike family
- Largemouth basssunfish family
- Smallmouth basssunfish family
- Rock basssunfish family
- Black crappiesunfish family
- White crappiesunfish family
Pictures of water close to Burbot
Photo: William Wesen ( Appraiser at English Wikipedia ), Public domain
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Photo: Jimmy Dreger, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Wikideas1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Handy answers on burbot
May Minnesota anglers keep burbot?
4 (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
Which Minnesota water gave up the record burbot?
No state record is listed.
Which lakes hold burbot?
Moose Lake, Cook County leads the DNR gill net catch at 7.67 per net; 179 waters on this site list it.
Where does the DNR stock burbot?
None listed on the area pages.
How do I tell burbot from similar fish?
It has a long body with smooth skin and a single whisker under its chin.
When does Minnesota burbot season open and close?
Continuous
Do kids need a license for burbot?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Which guides list burbot?
No Minnesota guide names it; see the guides page.
Plan a Minnesota burbot trip
Pick a lake from the lists on this page.