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.

Interactive Map
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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 Fry (0-3 inches)
2022/06/21 Kokanee 2,835,056 Fry (0-3 inches)
2017/06/19 Kokanee 310,546 Fry (0-3 inches)
2017/06/16 Kokanee 237,360 Fry (0-3 inches)
2017/06/15 Kokanee 3,894,859 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/06/22 Kokanee 819,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/06/21 Kokanee 902,175 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/06/12 Kokanee 1,007,631 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/06/11 Kokanee 1,641,481 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/05/07 Kokanee 520,289 Fry (0-3 inches)
2014/06/20 Kokanee 1,701,745 Fry (0-3 inches)
2014/06/19 Kokanee 3,513,054 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/07/02 Kokanee 852,304 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/07/01 Kokanee 804,506 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/21 Kokanee 710,362 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/20 Kokanee 1,879,499 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/19 Kokanee 2,597,784 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/18 Kokanee 2,921,760 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/03 Kokanee 1,583,116 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/07/10 Kokanee 260,004 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/07/09 Kokanee 765,630 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/06/12 Kokanee 578,307 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/06/11 Kokanee 314,535 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/13 Kokanee 161,549 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/12 Kokanee 718,548 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/11 Kokanee 718,548 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/01 Kokanee 271,125 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/30 Kokanee 1,645,294 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/29 Kokanee 2,698,538 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/28 Kokanee 2,440,038 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/22 Kokanee 695,568 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/21 Kokanee 671,155 Fry (0-3 inches)
2008/03/27 Kokanee 25,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/21 Kokanee 145,135 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/19 Kokanee 940,337 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/16 Kokanee 358,653 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/15 Kokanee 1,014,454 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/06 Kokanee 911,114 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/20 Kokanee 198,342 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/17 Kokanee 806,391 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/06 Kokanee 110,504 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/03 Kokanee 460,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/02 Kokanee 511,454 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/01 Kokanee 1,464,770 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/05/31 Kokanee 568,618 Fry (0-3 inches)
2004/03/26 Kokanee 174,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
2002/08/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/05 Kokanee 877,519 Fry (0-3 inches)
2000/04/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 140,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/04/20 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 50,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/04/13 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 50,692 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/03/27 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/03/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 27,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/03/16 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/03/12 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 13,045 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/03/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 25,740 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/03/09 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 12,870 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/03/08 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 48,379 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/03/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 34,170 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/03/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 13,157 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/03/02 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 22,862 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/02/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 26,958 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/02/23 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 12,310 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/24 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 5,110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/23 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 34,127 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 36,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/08 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,763 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/06/02 Kokanee 500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/06/28 Kokanee 1,045 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/06/20 Kokanee 1,278,340 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/06/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 28,149 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/06/10 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 11,148 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/31 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 17,738 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/29 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,072 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/13 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 915 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/06 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,205 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/07/12 Kokanee 4,027,460 Fry (0-3 inches)
1995/06/05 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 2,977 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/05/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,018 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/04/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 62,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/07/11 Kokanee 4,231,347 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/07/08 Kokanee 430,100 Fry (0-3 inches)
1994/07/07 Kokanee 916,709 Fry (0-3 inches)
1994/06/10 Kokanee 4,324,487 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/23 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 14,289 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,720 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/10 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/04/22 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/04/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 9,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/04/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/05/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 15,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/05/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 70,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/06/30 Kokanee 1,940,882 Fry (0-3 inches)
1992/06/29 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 3,165 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/06/04 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 19,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/05/15 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 50,130 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/07/19 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/07/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 15,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/07/16 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 4,992 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/05/31 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 59,690 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/05/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,286 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/04/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 20,993 Fry (0-3 inches)
1990/07/24 Kokanee 1,137,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1990/06/14 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,050 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 18,998 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/16 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 9,976 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/14 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 2,076 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/11 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 9,867 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/10 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 16,264 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/01 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 21,660 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/04/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 20,160 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/07/28 Kokanee 1,024,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/26 Kokanee 1,428,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/18 Kokanee 984,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/06/29 Kokanee 1,256,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/07/27 Kokanee 1,570,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/06/27 Kokanee 1,607,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/09/28 Kokanee 12,520 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/08/11 Kokanee 665,440 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/08/10 Kokanee 815,164 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/08/01 Cutthroat Trout 110,432 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/05/08 Cutthroat Trout 2,004 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/04/29 Bull Trout 124,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/04/23 Bull Trout 101,184 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/04/17 Bull Trout 108,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/09/13 Rainbow Trout 32,130 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/09/10 Rainbow Trout 18,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/06/28 Kokanee 100,320 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/27 Kokanee 134,288 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/18 Bull Trout 148,128 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/04/26 Kokanee 213,888 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/03/27 Bull Trout 203,488 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/11/14 Rainbow Trout 9,887 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/10/31 Rainbow Trout 28,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/06/29 Cutthroat Trout 2,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/06/22 Cutthroat Trout 9,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/05/10 Bull Trout 101,405 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/04/26 Bull Trout 101,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/09/22 Rainbow Trout 12,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/09/17 Rainbow Trout 9,675 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/09/16 Rainbow Trout 27,950 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/05/17 Bull Trout 203,040 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/30 Rainbow Trout 19,110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/29 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/28 Rainbow Trout 25,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/25 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/24 Rainbow Trout 10,120 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/30 Rainbow Trout 22,506 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/29 Rainbow Trout 24,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/25 Rainbow Trout 15,730 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/24 Rainbow Trout 13,310 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/22 Rainbow Trout 21,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/02 Rainbow Trout 500 Adults
1969/09/02 Rainbow Trout 950 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/09/23 Rainbow Trout 5,610 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/20 Rainbow Trout 4,250 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/19 Rainbow Trout 16,775 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/18 Rainbow Trout 18,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/16 Rainbow Trout 15,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/12 Rainbow Trout 20,120 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/11 Rainbow Trout 15,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/10 Rainbow Trout 20,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/08/23 Rainbow Trout 3,450 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/08/20 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/19 Rainbow Trout 1,260 Catchable (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, 2025 - 2027

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.

Special Rules

Lake Pend Oreille (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
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for Brook Trout

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout - catch-and-release

Burbot

  • Burbot limit is 6

Chinook Salmon (land-locked)

  • Chinook Salmon limit is 2, none under 24 inches

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 15

Northern Pike (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.)

  • No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged

Sturgeon

  • Fishing for sturgeon in the Kootenai River is illegal
  • Sturgeon caught incidentally must be released immediately

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

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

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately

Walleye (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.)

  • No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length, or possession limit
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