Help Fish and Game study burbot in the Kootenai River—and earn rewards in the process

Idaho Fish and Game is once again inviting burbot anglers to take part in the Kootenai River Angler Science Program—an effort that helps biologists gather valuable information to make burbot fishing even better. The best part? Simply participating earns you free swag and an entry into a raffle for great prizes.

Ever wondered where that burbot you caught came from, or how old it might be? By joining the Angler Science Program, you’ll get answers while helping Fish and Game gather the information needed to manage this growing fishery.

Prizes

All anglers who complete and return a creel packet will receive a custom hat and sticker. Participants will also be entered into a free raffle for a chance to win:

• Yeti Tundra 45 coolers
• Custom hoodies and coffee mugs
• Buddy heaters and Jetboils

How to participate

Complete and return a creel packet

Anglers must pick up, fill out and return a creel packet by April 1 to receive free swag and be entered into the raffle.
You are eligible for all rewards whether you catch a burbot or not—just be sure to complete your contact card and logbook and return the packet by the deadline.

Check out the linked flyer for full details, including pick-up and drop-off locations. You can also watch the instructional video below for a quick walkthrough of the process.

Report tagged burbot

Whether or not you participate in the Angler Science Program, please keep an eye out for tags located on the backs of burbot.

By reporting tagged fish, you help Fish and Game better understand catch rates, harvest and survival—all critical to improving the fishery.

Some tags also carry a $100 reward, so this winter could be your lucky year.

If you catch a tagged burbot, please report the tag number and catch location to Fish and Game online or through your Angler Science Program creel packet.

A brief history lesson of burbot on the Kootenai River

For some, winter is a time to settle in by the fire. For others, it’s the perfect season to chase the native—and once rare—burbot of the Kootenai River.

Nicknamed the Kootenai leopard or ling cod, burbot virtually disappeared from the fishery by the early 1990s. Due to declining populations, burbot fishing on the Kootenai River was closed in 1992. Thanks to the hard work of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Fish and Game and other partners, the population rebounded, and the river reopened to burbot fishing in January 2019.

Because the fishery is still relatively new, Fish and Game carefully monitors burbot each winter from December through March. Angler participation provides an essential boost to those efforts.

For questions or to learn more about the Kootenai River Angler Science Program, please contact the Panhandle Regional Office at (208) 769-1414.

Follow the Panhandle Region Facebook page for updates, news, and fishing information throughout the season.