Age, Maturity, Spawning and Food of Burbot, Lota lota, in Lake Winnipeg

Burbot are common in Lake Winnipeg; 886 were taken as a sample. Trap-net and otter-trawl catches are more representative of the population than gill-net catches. A significant difference in length-weight relationship exists between two localities. Ages were determined from otoliths. Heavier exploitation in the northern part of the lake probably accelerated the growth rate. Age-6 burbot there weighed 3.4 pounds compared with 2.6 pounds in the southern part. Spawning begins about January 31 and lasts 3 weeks. The smaller burbot feed mainly on insect larvae, the larger burbot on fish and crayfish.