If you’re a fisherman in the Kootenai River, winter is your chance to catch the native and rare burbot. By reporting tags, you can help Fish and Game better understand burbot catch rates, harvest rates, and survival rates, which helps improve the fishery. Select tags carry a reward value of $100, so this winter could be your lucky year!

If you see a tag while fishing, please report the tag number and location of where you caught the fish to Fish and Game. Reporting can be done over the phone (1-866-258-0338), online or as part of the Angler Science Program creel packet.

For some people, winter is a time to hibernate in their warm homes with a hot drink by a crackling fire. But for others, it’s an exciting opportunity to try their hand at landing one of the most elusive fish in the river – the burbot. So why not take advantage of this rare chance and give it a go?