Anglers turned out for the pursuit to catch the ugliest fish in the west over the weekend at Flaming Gorge. 201 teams amounting to 653 fishermen participated in the 2017 Burbot Bash hauling in a total of 3,918 fish. $19,800 dollars was paid out plus $6,000 dollars in prizes were awarded. Tyler Holbrook caught the largest fish in the adult division with a 35.6 inch burbot, weighing 9.38 pounds, winning him $1,400 dollars. Josh Jensen won the largest fish in the youth division with a 30.5 inch burbot, weighing nearly 5 pounds, winning him $150 dollars. Burbaholics Anonymous won in the team division, catching a total of 218 burbot, earning them a team payout of $2,100 dollars. The Burbot Bash started in 2009 and has expanded from an on-ice clinic to a major cash prize event. Burbot are considered an invasive species in Flaming Gorge that were illegally stocked and have devastating effects on the sport fishery. Burbot are best caught at night and in the winter, making this event the perfect opportunity to remove as many burbot as possible from Flaming Gorge every year.
