Burbot in United Kingdom — catches, stats & how to catch
Burbot is the only cold-water freshwater cod: it feeds hardest in late autumn and winter, spawns under the ice, and is taken on bottom rigs and night jigging. Map, top water bodies, and analytics — based on real angler reports.
Bite calendar for Burbot
The best days and hours to fish — a bite forecast factoring in pressure, wind, temperature, and the moon phase.
Open the bite forecast →Burbot bite forecast by region in United Kingdom
Description and behaviour
The burbot (Lota lota) is the only freshwater member of the cod family, easily recognised by its elongated, eel-like body, marbled colouring and a single barbel on the chin. Its skin is coated in a thick layer of slime, and two dorsal fins together with one long anal fin give it a silhouette unlike any other freshwater fish.
It is a cold-water predator whose activity works in reverse compared with most fish: in summer, when the water warms above 15 °C, the burbot becomes sluggish and hides in burrows under snags and stones, feeding almost not at all. It comes back to life as the water cools in autumn, holding on rocky, snag-filled stretches with a strong current and cold, well-oxygenated water.
Spawning and seasons
The burbot is one of very few fish that spawns in the depth of winter under the ice, usually from December to February at water temperatures of around 0–2 °C, when other species are completely passive. Spawning takes place over sand-and-gravel shallows and riffles, often in large, noisy shoals that rise out of the deep holes onto the shallows after dark.
In colder, northern rivers spawning shifts later because of the long ice cover and can continue into late February or early March, whereas in milder regions it usually finishes by the end of January. During the spawning period local fishing regulations often impose restrictions on certain stretches — it is worth checking these in advance, especially on protected spawning grounds.
When it bites
The burbot's main season is late autumn and winter: once the water starts cooling steadily in October–November an intense pre-spawn feeding binge begins and continues through almost the whole winter right up to spawning. After a short lull just after spawning at the end of winter the bite picks up again and holds until the ice breaks up.
The burbot is a strictly nocturnal predator, most active after dark and in foul weather with wet snow or rain — a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure and murky water after a flood often trigger it to move out and feed. During the day, especially in clear frosty weather, bites are rare: the fish sits in cover and waits for darkness. In summer, once the water warms, the burbot barely feeds at all until the autumn cool-down.
Methods and tackle
The classic way to catch burbot is with bottom rigs and set lines cast from the bank, put out overnight and checked towards morning; the burbot swallows the bait deep and hooks itself, so no sharp strike is needed. On large rivers set lines carrying several hooks, fished in the current near holes and snags, are popular.
Through the ice the main method is the so-called "knocker" — a heavy vertical spoon or jig with a massive sinker that is tapped against the bottom, stirring up silt and drawing the predator in with the noise and vibration; fishing is done mostly at night or in twilight, working the holes at intervals. Tackle should be strong: line or braid with plenty of reserve in case of a snag in the timber, and a large single or double hook for a livebait.
Baits and lures
The best bait on a bottom rig is a small livebait fish (gudgeon, ruffe, small roach) or fresh cut strips of it, along with a classic bunch of dendrobaena worms — the burbot responds superbly to scent and readily swallows a large bait whole. Pieces of strong-smelling fish and chicken offal also work well, especially in murky water after a flood.
On the "knocker" and heavy vertical spoons through the ice, a piece of fish is added or a small livebait is hung on the spoon's treble — the action and the tapping on the bottom work as the main trigger, while scent reinforces the effect. In the dead of winter, when the bite weakens, it pays to change spots more often and check holes along the channel edges and snags where the burbot holds during the day.
Playing and landing
The burbot fights sluggishly and does not lunge to the side like the perch family, but its slippery, slime-covered body makes it harder to keep hold of — it is best to grip it through a cloth or use a purpose-made disgorger, especially when removing a deeply swallowed hook. When fishing on the bottom the burbot often hooks itself thanks to its weight, and a sharp strike is usually unnecessary.
Check your bottom rigs and holes regularly through the night — the burbot feeds in waves, and fresh bait on the hook noticeably improves results. When fishing rivers with a strong current, secure your tackle firmly on the bank: a big burbot on a bottom rig can drag a poorly fixed rod into the water.