6/1/08 – Aaron Johnson sent along these pictures of an eelpout that he caught on Alton last week. Eelpout are fairly common in BWCA Wilderness lakes, but are rarely caught. They are bottom feeders, so they are usually caught when the fisher person accidentally lets his or her bait rest on the bottom.
While they look somewhat eel-like, they are actually members of the family Zoarcidae. There are 220 species world wide. I’ve seen them up to five pounds come out of Alton over the years, usually caught in the winter. They are quite delicious to eat – often called the “poor man’s lobster” by locals.
Their odd appearance has also spawned a host of nicknames. The most common around here are lawyer, burbot, fish doctor, or what I said the first time I caught one when I was a kid, “What the h*** is that ugly thing?” – Bill

Aaron Johnson with his unusual catch on Alton Lake.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.