Sonar shadows simplified, Near record sauger, Suspended burbot

Dahlton Krahn iced a massive 24.5″ sauger in southern MN that was chock full of girth!

The fish was released – which is awesome! – but of course that means we’ll never know if it would have been a new state record.

The current MN state record sauger was caught outta the Mississippi River near Red Wing on 5/23/1986 = 6 lbs 2 oz and 23-7/8″ long x 15″ girth.

Record or not, congrats on the seriously special catch!

– Funny comment under this post by Jeremy Cortright in the private West Michigan Ice Fishing FB group. Jeremy said “My friend and I caught and released Stewie the northern pike” just north of Baldwin, MI:

Ridiculous proportions lol.

If you don’t understand the Stewie (Family Guy) reference…

Btw there were some comments under the original post talking about the fish having bad genetics…but if you take a closer look, you can see the fish is blind (in at least 1 eye) so it was likely just on an unfortunate diet:

If you’re new to Side Imaging, it can be a little confusing to figure out what you’re looking at. I came across this post shared on Brad Durick’s FB page that is a cool “real life” analogy for why the fish and shadows look the way they do on SI:

It’s easy to spot BIG fish on Side Imaging units, but the reality is you’re not typically gonna be targeting walleye the size of moose lol…unless maybe you’re Layne “only catches bigguns” Maier (aka @mtnmanoutdoors) who graphed AND caught this 31-incher on SK’s Last Mountain Lake a few years back:

Most lakes around here, it’s those 15-19″ eater-sized fish you’re after, and they’re not gonna drop a shadow the size of your great aunt Eleanor (no offense, Elly baby!). So imagine that first moose pic, but instead they are squirrels…. Tho since the fish-sexxy MEGA Side Imaging has come out, even those squirrels can’t hide. 🎯

Burbot/eelpout have been known as bottom feeders for years. If you’ve been trying to learn up on ’em…basically every write-up or YouTube video you’ll see talks about pounding bottom. How you don’t even really need a flasher or graph ‘cuz they come thru soooo tight to bottom that they’ll often be in the sonar’s “dead zone” anyway.

BUT I’d say probably half the fish I have caught the last few seasons have been suspended off bottom. Sometimes that’s just 2-4′ off…but MANY other times they are 10-15′ off bottom and right in the middle of the water column. Shoot, the other night I had one stroll thru just 5-6’ under the ice!

Bugs me that I don’t know the actual reason(s). Wish I had firm answers for you, but these are just a couple of random thoughts on a fish we don’t know a whole lot about:

The more obvious one might be that suspended burbot are up feeding on baitfish. The prey depends on the system you’re fishing. The couple of lakes I target ’em around here have tullibee/cisco. Don’t see a whole lot of them after dark, but the ones we do see usually tend to be suspended and slow moving. Yup, burbot will absolutely take one down. Same goes for a suspended rainbow trout or even smaller walleye.

Judging by the burbot I have cleaned in the past (and checked their stomach contents) they still seem to prefer eating crayfish and small perch, which of course are going to be tighter to the bottom.

Another thing I’ve noticed since getting LiveScope a few seasons back, is that a lot of those suspended burbot are staying at the same depth as where they slid off the break. Can’t tell you how many times I have watched them swim OUT of a big weed flat on LiveScope, and stay right at the 14-18′ depth where they left the weeds. Then they swim off into the abyss – out over 30-50′ of water – but stay suspended at that 14-18′ depth until they’re no longer visible on LiveScope. Wild.

Maybe it’s a pressure thing? Not like angling pressure, but the pressure changes of going from shallow to deep water, and vice versa.

I’ve also watched numerous suspended fish “meet up” in the middle of the water column. Burbot that were hundreds of feet apart on LiveScope – both suspended – but then meet up somewhere in the middle and mosey off together.

Don’t know what it all means, but it’s interesting nonetheless. 🤷‍♂️ Or at least I think it is lol.

We’re still a little early for what would be considered “prime time,” but burbot are already showing up and biting around north-central MN.

So why burbot?

For starters: Where I’m at in MN the gamefish (walleye, pike, bass) season is already closed 🤦‍♂️ until mid-May. So it’s nice to get out a catch a fish that actually fights back while we still have ice for another month.

Plus they’re so ugly they’re pretty (I can relate), and the bite will only get better from here on out!

I just dropped a new burbot video on YouTube last night – hope you dig it!

Btw I put direct links to all the gear I was using in the video description on YouTube – waaaay too many to list ’em all here.

As always pls drop a comment on the video to let me know what you think and what you wanna see next. Thanks SO much for watching!

1. Boat market beginning to normalize?

> The boating market began to normalize last year as buyer interest shifted and the total number of boats sold globally decreased for the first time since the pandemic-driven boom. Boats Group, a global leader in online boating marketplaces, today announced findings from its latest annual market report [14-page PDF], analyzing 2022 while comparing the pandemic-induced surge and trends in consumer interest.

> The change towards more typical market conditions emerged in 2022 as the total number of boats sold dipped by just 4.3% compared to the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

But also:

> The global average boat value is up 29.5% compared to 2019.

> Boats sell 86 days faster than in 2019.

2. OH: Alleged walleye cheater charged with stalking + using counterfeit cash?

It (allegedly) just gets worse and worse. 😳

3. MN: Bill intro’d again to ban lead tackle.

> Lead sinkers or jigs that weigh 1 oz or less or is 2.5″ or less would be prohibited from manufacture, sale or use.

> The ban on its sale or manufacture would begin July 1, 2025, and the ban on its use July 1, 2026.

4. IGFA launches new world record length category for kids.

Love to see it! 🙌

> “Beginning Mar 1, 2023, the new IGFA All-Tackle Length Junior Category will be open to all anglers ages 16 and under, providing them with an opportunity to experience the thrill of setting World Records while promoting conservation through catch-and-release fishing.”

> IGFA prez Jason Schratwieser: “By introducing the All-Tackle Length Junior Category, we hope to inspire the next generation of anglers to get out and fish, while promoting ethical and sustainable fishing practices. Fishing is a fantastic way to connect with the outdoors, and we believe that by engaging young people with this sport, we can inspire the next generation of stewards of our oceans, lakes, and rivers and help ensure the long-term health and vitality of our aquatic resources.”

5. MN’s largest muskie show is happening Mar 10-12.

The Minnesota Muskie Expo is happening Mar 10-12 in the Warner Coliseum at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Heard those folks will walk around the show all weekend just for a shot at seeing 1 big fish bait hahaha.

6. Okay, Busch Light…we see you. 🎣

7. 2023 National Walleye Tour schedule:

• Mar 21-22 – Spring Valley, IL – llinois River
• May 17-18 – Oshkosh, WI – Lake Winnebago
• June 22-23 – Pickstown, SD – Lake Francis Case
• July 27-28 – Sault Ste Marie, MI – St. Mary’s River
• Sept 6-8 – Devils Lake, ND – Devils Lake (CHAMPIONSHIP)

Today is the last day for “priority registration.”

8. VA: Did you know saugeye are…

…a hybrid fish created by crossing a female walleye + a male sauger.

9. NE will certify youth fishing instructors at 5 upcoming workshops.

> Instructors are part of the Youth Fishing Program, a statewide team of volunteers and Game and Parks staff who host educational fishing events.

> Workshop participants will receive training and tools to conduct youth fishing clinics. These volunteers will have access to Game and Parks’ loaner fishing equipment and educational materials for events. They also will receive program incentives. Instructors are encouraged to volunteer for such Game and Parks programs as Community Fishing Nights and the Outdoor Expos.

10. DuraSafe has a new lock for Minn Kota quick-release brackets.

Fits Minn Kota models MKA-23, MKA-53, RTA-19, and RTA-54:

> DuraSafe prez Cathy Frantz: “We already manufacture 2 other lock versions to fit the various Minn Kota quick release mount models. This is the last to complete the series. Now we offer a lock for every mount style available. This new quick release bracket lock is the first of several product introductions we are rolling out this year.”

11. Wildlife Forever releases 2022 national report on invasive species.

> Through applied use of media and community outreach, the public awareness campaign generated a staggering 90 mil impressions in 2022.

12. ND G&F has a new mobile app.

> “…allows outdoor enthusiasts instant access in the field to their licenses, hunting and fishing regulations and other important information.”

Bonus points that the homepage begins with sunrise/sunset times and some weather forecast info.

13. OH: Train derailment killed more than 40,000 aquatic critters…

…mostly minnows…so far.

14. Chance to snag some discontinued Hyper-Glide colors.

> “Back by popular demand! These 5 discontinued colors are coming back in the 2″ and 2.5” only in mid-March! Head on over to www.acmetackle.com and click on the notify me box to be notified when they are back in stock.”

Unless Tom Boley buys ’em all first. 😂

Jason Mitchell’s finesse tactics for midwinter bluegill.

Despite what the calendar says, we’re still fishing deeper midwinter patterns around north-central MN for the most part.

The transition into “late ice” bites usually happens once we get warm-enough temps to create a melt, and water starts to run back into the holes = panfish make a break for skinny water.

So until that happens…take these Jason Mitchell tips and run with ’em. And of course in typical J-Mitch fashion, he does a REALLY good job of talking about the “why” and not just the “what.”

“You know they’re tall when they barely slide up a 6″ hole.”

– That’s Alec Wilcox running with the bulls! 🐂😤

Amazing genetics going on with that one!

Oh granny, what big teeth you have…. 🐺 All the better to eat your “perch” color Freedom Tackle Blade Bait with, my dear:

Derrick Barnes closed out the MN walleye season with a bang!

Friendly reminder that MN fishing licenses expired YESTERDAY…. Get on it!

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH