Lake Pend Oreille

Flows into the Pend Oreille River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Lake Pend Oreille in Bonner and Kootenai Counties is 92,764.4 acres.

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Formed by glaciers and encircled by mountain peaks and deep green forests, Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho's largest lake and one of the deepest inland lakes in North America. A renowned recreation and fishing mecca with a shoreline of 144 miles, its depth has been measured in excess of 1,170 feet. Anglers can try for multiple varieties of fish such as kokanee salmon, Kamloops rainbow trout, bull trout, and lake trout. In the winter the shallow areas near the lake outlet are favorites spots for ice fishing. Lake Pend Oreille is also the home of the 37 pound state record Kamloops rainbow trout caught by Wes Hamlet in 1947. Also, the world record bull trout (32 lbs) was caught in Lake Pend Oreille.

Facilities

Motor Restriction
No
Boat Ramp
Yes
Dock
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Campground
Yes
ADA Access
Handicap Accessible

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2023/06/27 Kokanee 299,390 Less than 6 inches
2022/06/21 Kokanee 2,835,056 Less than 6 inches
2017/06/19 Kokanee 310,546 Less than 6 inches
2017/06/16 Kokanee 237,360 Less than 6 inches
2017/06/15 Kokanee 3,894,859 Less than 6 inches
2016/06/22 Kokanee 819,000 Less than 6 inches
2016/06/21 Kokanee 902,175 Less than 6 inches
2015/06/12 Kokanee 1,007,631 Less than 6 inches
2015/06/11 Kokanee 1,641,481 Less than 6 inches
2015/05/07 Kokanee 520,289 Less than 6 inches
2014/06/20 Kokanee 1,701,745 Less than 6 inches
2014/06/19 Kokanee 3,513,054 Less than 6 inches
2013/07/02 Kokanee 852,304 Less than 6 inches
2013/07/01 Kokanee 804,506 Less than 6 inches
2013/06/21 Kokanee 710,362 Less than 6 inches
2013/06/20 Kokanee 1,879,499 Less than 6 inches
2013/06/19 Kokanee 2,597,784 Less than 6 inches
2013/06/18 Kokanee 2,921,760 Less than 6 inches
2013/06/03 Kokanee 1,583,116 Less than 6 inches
2012/07/10 Kokanee 260,004 Less than 6 inches
2012/07/09 Kokanee 765,630 Less than 6 inches
2012/06/12 Kokanee 578,307 Less than 6 inches
2012/06/11 Kokanee 314,535 Less than 6 inches
2011/07/13 Kokanee 161,549 Less than 6 inches
2011/07/12 Kokanee 718,548 Less than 6 inches
2011/07/11 Kokanee 718,548 Less than 6 inches
2011/07/01 Kokanee 271,125 Less than 6 inches
2011/06/30 Kokanee 1,645,294 Less than 6 inches
2011/06/29 Kokanee 2,698,538 Less than 6 inches
2011/06/28 Kokanee 2,440,038 Less than 6 inches
2011/06/22 Kokanee 695,568 Less than 6 inches
2011/06/21 Kokanee 671,155 Less than 6 inches
2008/03/27 Kokanee 25,000 Less than 6 inches
2006/06/21 Kokanee 145,135 Less than 6 inches
2006/06/19 Kokanee 940,337 Less than 6 inches
2006/06/16 Kokanee 358,653 Less than 6 inches
2006/06/15 Kokanee 1,014,454 Less than 6 inches
2006/06/06 Kokanee 911,114 Less than 6 inches
2005/06/20 Kokanee 198,342 Less than 6 inches
2005/06/17 Kokanee 806,391 Less than 6 inches
2005/06/06 Kokanee 110,504 Less than 6 inches
2005/06/03 Kokanee 460,600 Less than 6 inches
2005/06/02 Kokanee 511,454 Less than 6 inches
2005/06/01 Kokanee 1,464,770 Less than 6 inches
2005/05/31 Kokanee 568,618 Less than 6 inches
2004/03/26 Kokanee 174,000 Less than 6 inches
2002/08/28 Rainbow Trout 300 Greater than 6 inches
2002/08/13 Rainbow Trout 300 Greater than 6 inches
2000/05/05 Kokanee 877,519 Less than 6 inches
2000/04/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 140,000 Less than 6 inches
2000/04/20 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 50,400 Less than 6 inches
2000/04/13 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 50,692 Greater than 6 inches
2000/03/27 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Greater than 6 inches
2000/03/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 27,600 Greater than 6 inches
2000/03/16 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Greater than 6 inches
1999/03/12 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 13,045 Less than 6 inches
1999/03/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 25,740 Less than 6 inches
1999/03/09 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 12,870 Less than 6 inches
1999/03/08 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 48,379 Less than 6 inches
1998/03/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 34,170 Less than 6 inches
1998/03/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 13,157 Less than 6 inches
1998/03/02 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 22,862 Less than 6 inches
1998/02/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 26,958 Less than 6 inches
1998/02/23 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 12,310 Less than 6 inches
1997/07/24 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 5,110 Less than 6 inches
1997/07/23 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 34,127 Less than 6 inches
1997/07/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 36,200 Less than 6 inches
1997/07/08 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,763 Less than 6 inches
1997/06/02 Kokanee 500 Less than 6 inches
1996/06/28 Kokanee 1,045 Less than 6 inches
1996/06/20 Kokanee 1,278,340 Less than 6 inches
1996/06/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 28,149 Less than 6 inches
1996/06/10 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 11,148 Less than 6 inches
1996/05/31 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 17,738 Less than 6 inches
1996/05/29 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,072 Less than 6 inches
1996/05/13 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 915 Less than 6 inches
1996/05/06 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,205 Less than 6 inches
1995/07/12 Kokanee 4,027,460 Less than 6 inches
1995/06/05 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 2,977 Less than 6 inches
1995/05/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,018 Less than 6 inches
1995/04/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 62,000 Less than 6 inches
1994/07/11 Kokanee 4,231,347 Less than 6 inches
1994/07/08 Kokanee 430,100 Less than 6 inches
1994/07/07 Kokanee 916,709 Less than 6 inches
1994/06/10 Kokanee 4,324,487 Less than 6 inches
1994/05/23 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 14,289 Less than 6 inches
1994/05/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,720 Less than 6 inches
1994/05/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Less than 6 inches
1994/05/10 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Less than 6 inches
1994/04/22 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 5,000 Greater than 6 inches
1994/04/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 9,200 Less than 6 inches
1994/04/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,030 Greater than 6 inches
1993/05/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 15,560 Less than 6 inches
1993/05/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 70,600 Less than 6 inches
1992/06/30 Kokanee 1,940,882 Less than 6 inches
1992/06/29 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 3,165 Less than 6 inches
1992/06/04 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 19,560 Less than 6 inches
1992/05/15 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 50,130 Less than 6 inches
1991/07/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,560 Less than 6 inches
1991/07/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 15,840 Less than 6 inches
1991/07/16 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 4,992 Less than 6 inches
1991/05/31 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 59,690 Less than 6 inches
1991/05/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,286 Less than 6 inches
1991/04/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 20,993 Less than 6 inches
1990/07/24 Kokanee 1,137,600 Less than 6 inches
1990/06/14 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,050 Less than 6 inches
1990/05/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,998 Less than 6 inches
1990/05/16 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 9,976 Less than 6 inches
1990/05/14 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 2,076 Less than 6 inches
1990/05/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 9,867 Less than 6 inches
1990/05/10 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 16,264 Less than 6 inches
1990/05/01 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 21,660 Less than 6 inches
1990/04/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 20,160 Less than 6 inches
1989/07/28 Kokanee 1,024,000 Less than 6 inches
1989/07/26 Kokanee 1,428,000 Less than 6 inches
1989/07/18 Kokanee 984,000 Less than 6 inches
1989/06/29 Kokanee 1,256,000 Less than 6 inches
1988/07/27 Kokanee 1,570,500 Less than 6 inches
1988/06/27 Kokanee 1,607,000 Less than 6 inches
1983/09/28 Kokanee 12,520 Less than 6 inches
1982/08/11 Kokanee 665,440 Less than 6 inches
1982/08/10 Kokanee 815,164 Less than 6 inches
1975/08/01 Cutthroat Trout 110,432 Less than 6 inches
1974/05/08 Cutthroat Trout 2,004 Less than 6 inches
1974/04/29 Bull Trout 124,800 Less than 6 inches
1974/04/23 Bull Trout 101,184 Less than 6 inches
1974/04/17 Bull Trout 108,000 Less than 6 inches
1973/09/13 Rainbow Trout 32,130 Less than 6 inches
1973/09/10 Rainbow Trout 18,000 Less than 6 inches
1973/06/28 Kokanee 100,320 Less than 6 inches
1973/06/27 Kokanee 134,288 Less than 6 inches
1973/05/18 Bull Trout 148,128 Less than 6 inches
1973/04/26 Kokanee 213,888 Less than 6 inches
1973/03/27 Bull Trout 203,488 Less than 6 inches
1972/11/14 Rainbow Trout 9,887 Less than 6 inches
1972/10/31 Rainbow Trout 28,400 Less than 6 inches
1972/06/29 Cutthroat Trout 2,840 Less than 6 inches
1972/06/22 Cutthroat Trout 9,200 Less than 6 inches
1972/05/10 Bull Trout 101,405 Less than 6 inches
1972/04/26 Bull Trout 101,600 Less than 6 inches
1971/09/22 Rainbow Trout 12,900 Less than 6 inches
1971/09/17 Rainbow Trout 9,675 Less than 6 inches
1971/09/16 Rainbow Trout 27,950 Less than 6 inches
1971/05/17 Bull Trout 203,040 Less than 6 inches
1970/09/30 Rainbow Trout 19,110 Less than 6 inches
1970/09/29 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Less than 6 inches
1970/09/28 Rainbow Trout 25,200 Less than 6 inches
1970/09/25 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Less than 6 inches
1970/09/24 Rainbow Trout 10,120 Less than 6 inches
1969/09/30 Rainbow Trout 22,506 Less than 6 inches
1969/09/29 Rainbow Trout 24,200 Less than 6 inches
1969/09/25 Rainbow Trout 15,730 Less than 6 inches
1969/09/24 Rainbow Trout 13,310 Less than 6 inches
1969/09/22 Rainbow Trout 21,000 Less than 6 inches
1969/09/02 Rainbow Trout 500 Adults
1969/09/02 Rainbow Trout 950 Greater than 6 inches
1968/09/23 Rainbow Trout 5,610 Less than 6 inches
1968/09/20 Rainbow Trout 4,250 Less than 6 inches
1968/09/19 Rainbow Trout 16,775 Less than 6 inches
1968/09/18 Rainbow Trout 18,000 Less than 6 inches
1968/09/16 Rainbow Trout 15,000 Less than 6 inches
1968/09/12 Rainbow Trout 20,120 Less than 6 inches
1968/09/11 Rainbow Trout 15,150 Less than 6 inches
1968/09/10 Rainbow Trout 20,200 Less than 6 inches
1968/08/23 Rainbow Trout 3,450 Greater than 6 inches
1968/08/20 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Greater than 6 inches
1968/07/19 Rainbow Trout 1,260 Greater than 6 inches
1967/10/19 Rainbow Trout 10,735 Less than 6 inches
1967/10/10 Rainbow Trout 30,720 Less than 6 inches
1967/10/02 Rainbow Trout 6,389 Less than 6 inches
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Be aware of Fish Consumption Advisories associated with this waterbody. More information can be found here.

Fishing Rules, 2022 - 2024

All Waters Open All Year

Except as modified in Special Rules
Fishing is not allowed within the posted upstream and downstream boundary of any fish weir or trap.

Daily Bag Limits

The following daily bag limits apply to all waters within each region except as modified in the Special Rules. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit after the second day of the season.

Special Rules

Pend Oreille River (from Highway 95 bridge at Sandpoint downstream to Idaho-Washington border, including tributaries and sloughs to the edge of flat water)
  • Bass limit is 6, only two may be Largemouth Bass, no Largemouth Bass under 16 inches
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Pend Oreille Lake (includes Sand, Strong, Riser, Bayview, and Mirror creeks and their tributaries)
  • No limit on the number of fishing rods per angler while fishing from a boat
  • Bass limit is 6, only two may be Largemouth Bass, no Largemouth Bass under 16 inches
  • No limit on Lake Trout. Lake trout may be possesed in the field or in transit with the head removed.
  • No harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • Rainbow trout limit is 2, only 1 over 20 inches.
Panhandle Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • Bass limit is 6, both species combined

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

Burbot

  • Burbot limit is 6

Chinook Salmon (land-locked)

  • Chinook Salmon limit is 2, none under 20 inches

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 15

Sturgeon

  • Fishing for or targeting sturgeon in the Kootenai River is illegal
  • Sturgeon limit is 0, catch-and-release

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

Trout includes Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Splake, Arctic Grayling, trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, size or possession limit
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