2026 Burbot Bash has been cancelled!
Join us January 22-24th, 2027
ONLINE REGISTRATION — open
Registration
If you have any trouble accessing this window, please click direct link to right:
Fellow Bashers,
Due to unsafe ice, projected winds and winter conditions, the Burbot Bash planning committee has decided to cancel the 2026 Burbot Bash.
There are too many safety concerns with hosting this tournament on open water.
For those who have registered, you will be contacted to decide if you’d like to be refunded for your tournament registration fees or if you’d like to have your payment carried over for the 2027 tournament. The 2027 Burbot Bash is tentatively scheduled for January 22-24, 2027.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause with your upcoming travel plans.
We recognize you can still catch fish from a boat and the shoreline in the winter; however, this decision was made strictly based on safety concerns. There will still be plenty of things to do in Manila if you choose to come for the weekend, like participating in the new lake trout harvest program. The new Lake Trout Angler Harvest Program — sponsored by the Flaming Gorge Chamber of Commerce, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Utah DWR — is similar to the Mac Attack with a goal of reducing the numbers of small lake trout at Flaming Gorge. This new program opened Jan. 1 and runs until April 30, 2026. The program is free and details can be found on the Flaming Gorge website. If you choose to come the weekend before, you may also consider attending the 2026 Snow Rally at Flaming Gorge Resort! There is also the Utah Rallycross Snow Event going on January 24th & 25th. Please visit flaminggorgecountry.com for event information.
Cancelling this event hasn’t happened in a long time, if ever, and we share in your frustrations.
We did make 2026 Burbot Bash hats, and in an effort to recoup the cost of production, we will be selling them at local businesses in Manila.
*If you’d like to purchase a hat and have it shipped to you, the cost is approximately $25, which includes shipping and handling. You can visit Eventbrite to purchase a hat: https://bit.ly/3YpVCy2.
Here’s to more ice in 2027 and thank you for understanding! If you have any further questions, please contact the Daggett County Tourism Team.
Sincerely,
Burbot Bash planning committee
FAQs:
What is a Burbot?
-
The burbot is a freshwater cod-like fish that has a serpentine-like body, and is like a cross between an eel and a catfish, but with only a single barbel on the chin. Many fisherman have claimed burbot wrap themselves around their arms as they try to disengage the hook. The burbot’s body is elongated, while the head is flattened, with a wide mouth consisting of many small teeth on both the upper and lower jaws. The burbot is often called a ling cod, but is actually only a close relative.Besides having voracious appetites, burbot are nocturnal feeders, which is a cause for concern in the Flaming Gorge where most other fish are day time feeders. They love the eggs of other fish and have been known to feed on the spawning grounds of other species. Female burbot egg releases range from 60,000 to 3.4 million eggs for each batch.The known predators of the burbot: northern pike, muskellunge, and some lamprey species are not found in the Flaming Gorge, which is another reason why the Burbot Bash is needed to help keep their numbers under control.
Much of this information was derived from Wikipedia, for more detailed information follow the Wikipedia link or visit the About Page.
How can I win prizes during the Burbot Bash?
BURBOT BASH
All cash and prizes will be based on 300 participants. Prize payouts and places will be adjusted with increased participation. Burbot size is determined by length with weight being a tie-breaker.
Most Burbot ~ 3 places $1,500, $1000, $750
Biggest Burbot ~ 3 places $1000, $750, $500
Smallest Burbot ~ 3 places $500, $350, $200
Tagged Burbot Grand Prize - $2,000
TAGGED FISH:
- Tagged Burbot Grand Prize: All tagged Burbot (including internal PIT tags, radio tags and external Floy tags) will be eligible for the Tagged Burbot drawing. The first tag drawn will win the grand prize of $2,000.
- Tagged Burbot Rewards: All remaining tagged fish, excluding the Tagged Burbot Grand Prize winner, will be entered into the Tagged Burbot Reward category. This is a sponsorship category and all funds will be split equally between participants who catch a tagged fish. For example, if the Reward category has $1000 and ten tagged Burbot are caught, the payout is $100 per tagged Burbot (excluding the Tagged Burbot Grand Prize winner discussed above).
- Teams should check-in all Burbot, large or small; any of them could be a tagged fish.
- Entrants who catch a tagged fish must be present (or designate a team member to represent them) at the closing ceremonies to be eligible for Tagged Burbot prizes.
- All tagged Burbot caught during official tournament hours will be retained by a tournament official in a bag with team information until the awards ceremony on Sunday.
Do fish caught during the tagged fish portion of the tournament count towards the Biggest, Most and Smallest prizes during the event?
Yes
What happened to the Youth Categories?
The committee decided to eliminate the small prizes in youth categories and have everyone on the team compete
an equal footing. However, the entry fee for youth 13 and younger is half the price of an adult! In addition, all youth participants whom attend the Closing Ceremonies will receive a participation prize in addition to any angling or raffle drawing prizes.
Can I have 4 youths on one team?
No. Each team must have an adult (18+) as its captain.
How many persons are needed to make a team?
At least 2 and up to 4 persons.