Priest Lake

Flows into the Priest River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Priest Lake in Bonner County is 23,334.9 acres.

Interactive Map
 Download KMZ

Facilities

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

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
1991/06/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 86,072 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/09 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 804 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/06 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,720 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/05 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,720 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/03 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,720 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/02 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,720 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/06/29 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,320 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/06/28 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,320 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/06/27 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,320 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/06/26 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,320 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/06/25 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,320 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/08/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/08/18 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/08/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/08/16 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/08/15 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 10,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/08/04 Kokanee 59,833 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/14 Kokanee 354,967 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/13 Kokanee 44,172 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/12 Kokanee 10,073 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/07/12 Kokanee 174,166 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/11 Kokanee 31,759 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/07/07 Kokanee 1,639,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/07/06 Kokanee 159,993 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/07/06 Kokanee 346,293 Fry (0-3 inches)
1987/06/05 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,975 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/22 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/06/13 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 28,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/06/12 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 28,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/06/03 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 39,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/23 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 36,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/22 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 35,850 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/20 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,830 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/13 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 27,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/12 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 27,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/06/04 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 4,025 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/30 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 12,330 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/22 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 24,660 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/17 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 26,030 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/07/27 Kokanee 501,266 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/07/21 Kokanee 306,168 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/07/20 Kokanee 778,010 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/07/19 Kokanee 1,193,976 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/04/22 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 13,325 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/21 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 42,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/04/15 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 28,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/09/22 Westslope Cutthroat Trout 7,125 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/08/16 Kokanee 451,240 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/07/19 Kokanee 474,128 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/09/27 Cutthroat Trout 952 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/09/23 Cutthroat Trout 850 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/08/28 Cutthroat Trout 17,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/08/10 Cutthroat Trout 20,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/08/19 Cutthroat Trout 4,104 Fry (0-3 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

Priest Lake
  • Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout, no Cutthroat Trout under 16 inches
  • Kokanee limit is 6
Nearby Rules The following special rule(s) apply to adjacent waters but exclude the Priest Lake.
Priest Lake tributaries (including Thorofare)
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • Kokanee limit is 6
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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