Michigan's only freshwater member of the cod family. Long, eel-like body with a single chin barbel and mottled brown-olive coloration. Strictly nocturnal and deep-dwelling. Spawns in late January under the ice in roiling masses -- one of the only Michigan fish that spawns mid-winter. Meat is white, firm, and mild -- often compared to lobster when prepared correctly. Growing rapidly in popularity as a target ice fishing species.
| Lake | County | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barber Creek | Allegan | — | |
|
Black Lake
10,130 acres
|
Cheboygan | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Brevoort Lake
4,179 acres
|
Mackinac | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Burt Lake
17,120 acres
|
Cheboygan | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
| Carp River | Marquette | — | |
| Caseville | Huron | — | |
|
Crystal Lake
9,854 acres
|
Benzie | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Douglas Lake
3,400 acres
|
Cheboygan | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Glen Lake
4,944 acres
|
Leelanau | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Higgins Lake
9,600 acres
|
Roscommon | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Indian Lake
8,689 acres
|
Schoolcraft | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Intermediate Lake
682 acres
|
Antrim | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Lake Gogebic
13,380 acres
|
Gogebic | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Lake Michigamme
4,149 acres
|
Marquette | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Mullett Lake
16,630 acres
|
Cheboygan | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Muskallonge Lake
768 acres
|
Luce | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Pickerel Lake
830 acres
|
Cheboygan | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
|
Pickerel Lake
840 acres
|
Newaygo | Deep water -- best through the ice at night | |
| Port Austin | Huron | — | |
| Tawas Bay | Iosco | — |
No stocking records are on file for Burbot.
This is common for several reasons: this species may reproduce naturally and not require stocking (e.g. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike), it may be managed under a different program not tracked here, or records may predate our database. For the most current data, check the Michigan DNR Stocking Database directly.