An Approach to Estimate Angling Effort, Catch, and Harvest of burbot Lota lota

Author

Collin J. Mitchell

Date of Award

2-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Andrew Hafs

Second Advisor

Debbie Guelda

Third Advisor

Thomas Jones

Abstract

Once commonly thought of as a nuisance, Burbot Lota lota are now being frequently targeted by anglers in Minnesota. However, the amount of angling effort directed at Burbot, the distribution of effort, catch, and harvest are unknown. Historically, creel surveys have been used to estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest. Additionally, digital cameras have been used independently and supplementally to estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest. In this study, we estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest of Burbot using creel survey techniques and motion-activated digital cameras on Bad Medicine Lake, Minnesota, while also investigating and exploring the limitations of these methodologies. Using in-person data collection, we estimated Burbot anglers fished for 1,052 hours (3.23 hrs/ha), caught 136 Burbot (0.13 Burbot/angling hour), and harvested 67 Burbot (~50%; 0.06 Burbot/hr). Using digital data collection, we estimated Burbot anglers fished for 1,067 hours (3.28 hrs/ha), caught 173 Burbot (0.16 Burbot/angling hour), and harvested 87 Burbot (~50%; 0.08 Burbot/hr). In-person daily party counts were not significantly different from digital daily party counts (p = 0.09). Similarly, there was not a significant difference between in-person daily party counts and digital daily party counts, only when in-person data collection occurred (p = 0.22). However, trip lengths of angling parties that were both interviewed and observed on the digital cameras were significantly different (p = 0.02). On average, trip lengths of interviewed parties were 0.32 hours shorter than what was observed on the digital cameras. The findings of this research indicated that anglers actively targeted Burbot. Both in-person and digital data collection methods demonstrated to be effective for estimating angling effort.

Recommended Citation

Mitchell, Collin J., "An Approach to Estimate Angling Effort, Catch, and Harvest of burbot Lota lota" (2025). Biology Graduate Theses. 1.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/thesis-biol/1