How to Catch Pend Oreille Trout

A new video production has been recently released that provides tips on how to catch rainbow trout in Lake Pend Oreille. "Catch a Kam with Captain Ken", is a 73 minute DVD made by a professional guide that is now available for anglers wanting to improve their success at catching rainbow trout in Idaho's largest natural lake. The video covers planer boards and terminal tackle. Some of the most effective flies, spoons and plugs are identified. The video is specifically geared toward the Lake Pend Oreille fishery. The video is available for free check out at Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) offices in Coeur d'Alene, Bayview (Fisheries Research Station), and Clark Fork (Hatchery). Copies are also available for check out from public libraries in Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Spirit Lake, Sandpoint, Blanchard, Priest River, Priest Lake, and Clark Fork. IDFG fishery managers are encouraging anglers to catch and keep kamloops rainbow trout (popularly referred to as Ôkams') and lake trout from Lake Pend Oreille. Predator and prey species are out of balance in the lake, resulting in the closure of a once popular kokanee salmon fishery. Rainbow and Lake Trout are the primary predators on kokanee in the lake and are largely responsible for the decline in kokanee populations. Anglers catching and harvesting either rainbow or lake trout can enter the fish heads into an angler incentive program funded by Avista Utilities and administered by IDFG. All heads will be scanned for PIT tags worth from $100-$2000. Every rainbow or lake trout harvested is entered into the monthly drawings for 40 cash prizes of $100 and one cash prize of $1,000. All anglers over 18 years of age also receive one Idaho lottery scratch ticket for each fish harvested. Anglers can place fish heads in special freezers at Holiday Shores Marina (Ellisport Bay), Hope Marine Services (Ellisport Bay), the public boat launch at Garfield Bay, the Hudson's Bay Marina (Bayview), or the IDFG Bayview Research Office. Fish heads may also be dropped off at the IDFG regional office in Coeur d'Alene from 8-5, Mon-Fri. Some rainbow and lake trout are tagged with $100 reward tags tied behind the dorsal fin. Other such tags are worth $10. These tags and the fish species, weight, length, and date caught should be mailed to: Mark Liter, IDFG; 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815.