Burbot caught in the Columbia River

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2015/01/rare_catch_from_the_columbia_r.html#incart_river

25 inch Burbot caught below John Day dam.

willbd

That's cool

That's a long way from the closest populations on the Columbia up at Lake Roosevelt. Tasty fish.

Cool catch.

What does "Burbot are a freshwater lingcod-type fish" mean though? Burbot are much closer related to Cod and have a barbel or "whisker" just like Cod. I've never eaten one, do they taste like lingcod or something?

Cool catch.

What does "Burbot are a freshwater lingcod-type fish" mean though? Burbot are much closer related to Cod and have a barbel or "whisker" just like Cod. I've never eaten one, do they taste like lingcod or something?

They are actually the only true freshwater member of the cod family. They don't taste at all like lingcod. Meat is similar in texture and flavor to lobster but not quite as sweet.

Cool catch.

What does "Burbot are a freshwater lingcod-type fish" mean though? Burbot are much closer related to Cod and have a barbel or "whisker" just like Cod. I've never eaten one, do they taste like lingcod or something?

I'd say a lot like halibut.  Somewhere between Cod and monkfish from a texture point of view.  I think it's one of the best eating freshwater fish out there.  Poor man's lobster...chunk pieces, 2 parts sugar to one part salt in boiling water and dip in butter. Pretty good, easy to eat a lot of.

Burbot is tasty.  The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has posted some Burbot recipes at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/education/angler/pdfs/burbot_recipes.pdf , and other recipes are available on the internet.  You can also find videos on the internet about how to skin and fillet them.

Better add it to AOTY. 

That's a long way from the closest populations on the Columbia up at Lake Roosevelt. Tasty fish.

Chelan  holds them and is slightly closer.  Cle Elum holds them too I think, and may be even closer, but via the Yakima River.

-Allen

How cool is that! What an interesting fish. How does one angle specifically for burbot?