Hey, Chili Pepper...I am very interested in Burbot fishing...I would love to know more about it...Lived in Erie for thirty-one years (last 31 in Olean, NY).  This is one fish that I have never caught...
 

Sure thing. They are a very worthy fish. Really good eating too. I'm no expert but I will share what I know. 
Fishing for them reminds me of of fishing for catfish. Bottom feeders they feed by smell mostly and the best conditions are cold stained water after dark and some current. They are not line shy and like a big bait too. Some guys add those glow sticks as an attracter. They don't chase food but lay on bottom and let the current bring the snacks . 
The channel where PI bay joins the lake is the place to go in Erie. Heavy tackle, a couple oz. of sinker and a long handled net and you should be good to go.
Pack your hooks with minnows or use frozen smelt. 
 
Good luck.

This fish elicits the most tight lipped of responses on this site. As if many anglers are willing to stand on the piers in freezing weather, in the dark, waiting for the tug of a genuine ugly fish. In freshwater I believe only dogfish are uglier. They do taste good if you are not the one cleaning them.
 
I sure would like to know if they are running this year. I'm game!

WhOOOOOOOOPS thought they said 'Bourbon'.........  heh heh.....  I'm gone!

Hey, chili pepper....thanks for the reply...I kinda knew about the channel and fishing at night for them...I also have a vague idea of when to go, and I'm assuming that I'm just about out of time for this year...although, from what I understand, they have an uncertain spawning season, and it varies year to year...any ideas if they're still around??
 

My non-expert opinion is that as long as water temp stays cold the pattern should hold. Is it worth a cold , windy, lonely walk in the dark, t to the end of the pier?
 
Heck ya!  You gotta suffer to catch fish.
 
Bourbon is not required. Irish whiskey will also work.

Has anyone ever actually caught one? These Burbot are a myth as far as I can figure. I would Probly get bored pretty quick fishing for one in nasty weather with no action. Even if Bourbon was a factor...

  Five and a little more years ago I fished Burbot off the South Pier. We fished a couple times a year for three years. We averaged two a night and maxed with five one night. We never fished after 12 mainly because they seemed to quit biting. We packed the hooks with minnows as Chili Pepper suggested. One night we had a couple shad that we were given from the East Street bait shop which we cut up and threaded on the hook ( worked great). That may have been our 5 fish night, and was at least a good night. I only tried smelt once and had no luck, others seemed to favor them.
   It was a good time and never over crowded. The last time I asked about it I was told the run was not good, and very few were being caught. I would like to try again but I live in Franklin and with the drive its a long night. It would be nice to know there is a run before making the trip.
   Pick an evening with light or no wind. Heavy currant makes it difficult and your only chance is around the corner on shore side if pier. Some nights the mud puppies wouldn't leave your bait alone and we ended up killing some because they swallowed the hook.

Pretty cool stuff.

Met a driver out of Michigan while laying over in the 'Windy City' one weekend. Many hours spent over cup(s) of coffee ratchet jawing about ice fishing, thereafter.

On occasion Burbot fishing was the main discussion as was, the fish for dinner.

Truthfully, had I not experienced ice fishing and/or or used the cleaning methods described, I would have doubted the fish even existed.

To catch the fish through the ice, two methods were used. 1. A 'trout line' having an average of 8 ounces of weight and 8-10' leader was sent to the bottom than tied to a stick, laid across the hole through the ice. Snow was then piled over the opening, the location marked, than checked within 24 hrs. 'Fish on' or not required new bait and recover the opening til the next day. 2. Made use of a long pole (depending on DOW) to which leader and bait were affixed. The line end of the pole was pushed through the opening taking every thing to the bottom. Once again, snow was piled over the entire set-up and rechecked the next day.

Use of the heavy weight or pole is to keep the bait on the bottom as Burbot are bottom feeders.

Last I knew, PA. does not allow use of 'unattended' rigs for fish but, a heavy weight on heavy line and light leader sent to the bottom off of a 'tip-up(s)' might be worth a try.

As treesparrow says "they taste good if, your not the one cleaning them".
Cleaning requires the same methods used for cat fish.

Chili Pepper I gotta stick with the bourbon. Tried irish whiskey one time and by the end of the day........... I was taking back stuff I never stole.