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 - Late Spawner 299,390 Fry (0-3 inches)
2022/06/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,835,056 Fry (0-3 inches)
2017/06/19 Kokanee - Late Spawner 310,546 Fry (0-3 inches)
2017/06/16 Kokanee - Late Spawner 237,360 Fry (0-3 inches)
2017/06/15 Kokanee - Late Spawner 3,894,859 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/06/22 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,638,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/06/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,804,350 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/06/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,007,631 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/06/11 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,641,481 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/05/07 Kokanee - Late Spawner 520,289 Fry (0-3 inches)
2014/06/20 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,701,745 Fry (0-3 inches)
2014/06/19 Kokanee - Late Spawner 3,513,054 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/07/02 Kokanee - Late Spawner 852,304 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/07/01 Kokanee - Late Spawner 804,506 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 710,362 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/20 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,879,499 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/19 Kokanee - Early Spawner 64,926 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/19 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,532,858 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/18 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,921,760 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/06/03 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,583,116 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/07/10 Kokanee - Late Spawner 260,004 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/07/09 Kokanee - Late Spawner 765,630 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/06/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 578,307 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/06/11 Kokanee - Late Spawner 314,535 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/13 Kokanee - Late Spawner 161,549 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 718,548 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/11 Kokanee - Late Spawner 718,548 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/07/01 Kokanee - Late Spawner 271,125 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/30 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,645,294 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/29 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,698,538 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/28 Kokanee - Late Spawner 2,440,038 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/22 Kokanee - Late Spawner 695,568 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/06/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 671,155 Fry (0-3 inches)
2008/03/27 Kokanee - Late Spawner 25,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/21 Kokanee - Late Spawner 145,135 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/19 Kokanee - Late Spawner 940,337 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/16 Kokanee - Late Spawner 358,653 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/15 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,014,454 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/06/06 Kokanee - Late Spawner 911,114 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/20 Kokanee - Late Spawner 198,342 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/17 Kokanee - Late Spawner 806,391 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/06 Kokanee - Late Spawner 110,504 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/03 Kokanee - Late Spawner 460,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/02 Kokanee - Late Spawner 511,454 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/06/01 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,464,770 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/05/31 Kokanee - Late Spawner 568,618 Fry (0-3 inches)
2004/03/26 Kokanee - Late Spawner 174,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
2002/08/28 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/13 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/05 Kokanee - Late Spawner 877,519 Fry (0-3 inches)
2000/04/21 Westslope Cutthroat 140,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/04/20 Westslope Cutthroat 50,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/04/13 Westslope Cutthroat 50,692 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/03/27 Westslope Cutthroat 18,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/03/17 Westslope Cutthroat 27,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/03/16 Westslope Cutthroat 18,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/03/12 Westslope Cutthroat 13,045 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/03/11 Westslope Cutthroat 25,740 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/03/09 Westslope Cutthroat 12,870 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/03/08 Westslope Cutthroat 48,379 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/03/18 Westslope Cutthroat 34,170 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/03/17 Westslope Cutthroat 13,157 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/03/02 Westslope Cutthroat 22,862 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/02/25 Westslope Cutthroat 26,958 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/02/23 Westslope Cutthroat 12,310 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/24 Westslope Cutthroat 5,110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/23 Westslope Cutthroat 34,127 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/18 Westslope Cutthroat 36,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/07/08 Westslope Cutthroat 18,763 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/06/02 Kokanee - Late Spawner 500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/06/28 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,045 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/06/20 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,278,340 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/06/11 Westslope Cutthroat 28,149 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/06/10 Westslope Cutthroat 11,148 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/31 Westslope Cutthroat 17,738 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/29 Westslope Cutthroat 10,072 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/13 Westslope Cutthroat 915 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/05/06 Westslope Cutthroat 24,205 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/07/12 Kokanee - Late Spawner 4,027,460 Fry (0-3 inches)
1995/06/05 Westslope Cutthroat 2,977 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/05/25 Westslope Cutthroat 24,018 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/04/19 Westslope Cutthroat 62,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/07/11 Kokanee - Late Spawner 4,231,347 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/07/08 Kokanee - Late Spawner 430,100 Fry (0-3 inches)
1994/07/07 Kokanee - Late Spawner 916,709 Fry (0-3 inches)
1994/06/10 Kokanee - Late Spawner 4,324,487 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/23 Westslope Cutthroat 14,289 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/19 Westslope Cutthroat 24,720 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/11 Westslope Cutthroat 18,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/05/10 Westslope Cutthroat 18,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/04/22 Westslope Cutthroat 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/04/21 Westslope Cutthroat 9,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1994/04/19 Westslope Cutthroat 10,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/05/21 Westslope Cutthroat 15,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/05/18 Westslope Cutthroat 70,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/06/30 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,940,882 Fry (0-3 inches)
1992/06/29 Westslope Cutthroat 3,165 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/06/04 Westslope Cutthroat 19,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/05/15 Westslope Cutthroat 50,130 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/07/19 Westslope Cutthroat 10,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/07/18 Westslope Cutthroat 15,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/07/16 Westslope Cutthroat 4,992 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/05/31 Westslope Cutthroat 59,690 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/05/17 Westslope Cutthroat 10,286 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/04/25 Westslope Cutthroat 20,993 Fry (0-3 inches)
1990/07/24 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,137,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1990/06/14 Westslope Cutthroat 10,050 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/25 Westslope Cutthroat 18,998 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/16 Westslope Cutthroat 9,976 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/14 Westslope Cutthroat 2,076 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/11 Westslope Cutthroat 9,867 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/10 Westslope Cutthroat 16,264 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/01 Westslope Cutthroat 21,660 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/04/25 Westslope Cutthroat 20,160 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/07/28 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,024,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/26 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,428,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/18 Kokanee - Late Spawner 984,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/06/29 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,256,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/07/27 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,570,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/06/27 Kokanee - Late Spawner 1,607,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/09/28 Kokanee - Late Spawner 12,520 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/08/11 Kokanee - Late Spawner 665,440 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/08/10 Kokanee - Late Spawner 815,164 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/08/01 Cutthroat 110,432 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/05/08 Cutthroat 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 Kamloops 32,130 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/09/10 Kamloops 18,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/06/28 Kokanee - October Spawner 100,320 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/27 Kokanee - October Spawner 134,288 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/18 Bull Trout 148,128 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/04/26 Kokanee - October Spawner 213,888 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/03/27 Bull Trout 203,488 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/11/14 Kamloops 9,887 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/10/31 Kamloops 28,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/06/29 Cutthroat 2,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/06/22 Cutthroat 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 Kamloops 12,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/09/17 Kamloops 9,675 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/09/16 Kamloops 27,950 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/05/17 Bull Trout 203,040 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/30 Kamloops 19,110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/29 Kamloops 8,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/28 Kamloops 25,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/25 Kamloops 8,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/09/24 Kamloops 10,120 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/30 Kamloops 22,506 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/29 Kamloops 24,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/25 Kamloops 15,730 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/24 Kamloops 13,310 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/22 Kamloops 21,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/09/02 Kamloops 500 Adults
1969/09/02 Rainbow Unspecified 950 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/09/23 Kamloops 5,610 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/20 Kamloops 4,250 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/19 Kamloops 16,775 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/18 Kamloops 18,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/16 Kamloops 15,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/12 Kamloops 20,120 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/11 Kamloops 15,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/10 Kamloops 20,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/08/23 Kamloops 3,450 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/08/20 Kamloops 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/19 Kamloops 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, 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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