Pend Oreille Lake, ID

About Pend Oreille Lake

Pend Oreille Lake (pronounced "pond-or-ay") is the largest lake in Idaho and one of the deepest natural lakes in the United States, plunging to well over 1,000 feet in its main basin. Tucked into the mountains of the northern panhandle near Sandpoint, it is a sprawling, glacier-carved water with long open reaches, deep cold-water haunts, rocky points, weedy bays and the inflow of the Clark Fork River at its eastern end and the outflow into the Pend Oreille River to the west. The sheer scale and depth give it a true big-water character that rewards anglers who understand the seasons and the depths the fish are using.

The lake is best known as a coldwater trophy fishery. For generations it produced enormous Gerrard-strain rainbow trout (often called Kamloops) that grew fat feeding on kokanee, along with a renowned kokanee fishery and the chance at very large lake trout (mackinaw) and native bull trout. It also offers excellent warmwater fishing in its bays and shoreline structure, particularly for smallmouth bass. Few western lakes pack as much variety — from light-tackle panfish to downrigger trolling for double-digit trout — into one body of water.

Fish Species

Pend Oreille holds a deep and varied roster of gamefish. The standouts that put the lake on the map are its big trout and kokanee:

• Kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) — the heart of the lake's open-water fishery and the primary forage that fuels the big predators. Schools roam the main basin and are a favorite of trollers.
• Rainbow trout (Gerrard/Kamloops strain) — historically the trophy draw, with fish capable of reaching very large sizes by gorging on kokanee. These are hard-fighting, far-ranging fish.
• Lake trout (mackinaw) — abundant and capable of trophy size; they hold deep over structure for much of the year.
• Bull trout — a native char and a protected species in most situations; they may be encountered while fishing and should be handled carefully and released per current rules.
• Cutthroat trout — present in the system, especially associated with tributaries and cooler water.

On the warmwater side, the lake's rocky shorelines, points and bays produce strong smallmouth bass fishing, along with largemouth bass in weedier coves, plus yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and pumpkinseed for panfish anglers. Whitefish are also present and provide good cold-season action.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring: As ice leaves and the water warms, trout and kokanee feed actively in the upper water column, and shallow-running or topline trolling can be very productive before the thermocline sets up. Smallmouth begin moving toward rocky shorelines as bays warm into the spawn, often becoming aggressive in the shallows. Mornings and overcast days shine.

Summer: Surface water warms and stratifies, pushing kokanee and trout deeper toward the cooler thermocline. This is downrigger season — fish go down to find the cool, oxygenated band where bait concentrates. Lake trout sit deep over structure. Bass fishing is excellent early and late in the day around points, docks and weed edges, with midday fish holding deeper.

Fall: Cooling water spreads fish back through the column and triggers strong feeding. Kokanee stage and run toward tributaries to spawn, and the big predator trout follow the bait. This is one of the best windows for a trophy rainbow or lake trout as fish bulk up for winter. Smallmouth feed heavily on rocky structure before the cold.

Winter: The main lake stays open and is fished from boats by hardy anglers trolling deep for lake trout and rainbows, while whitefish and perch provide steady cold-weather action. Dress for serious cold and watch the weather on this big, exposed water.

In general, the first and last hours of daylight are most productive for trout and bass alike, and overcast, stable-weather days outproduce bright bluebird conditions.

Techniques & Baits

Because this is deep, big water, trolling and getting baits to the right depth are the dominant tactics for the marquee species:

• Kokanee: Troll slowly (often 1–1.5 mph) with downriggers, using small dodgers or flashers ahead of pink, orange or chartreuse hoochies, micro-spoons or beaded spinner rigs. Tip hooks with shoepeg corn (often scented) for a reliable edge. Find the schools on electronics and run lures right at their depth.
• Rainbow/Kamloops trout: Troll plugs and minnow-imitating baits (such as Rapala-style minnows and flatfish-style lures) and larger spoons near kokanee schools, since these trout key on the baitfish. Run lines on toplines or planer boards in cool months and on downriggers when fish go deep.
• Lake trout (mackinaw): Get deep over rocky humps and basins with jigs (tube jigs, swimbaits and heavy spoons) or troll large spoons and plugs near bottom. Vertical jigging marked fish on good sonar is highly effective.
• Smallmouth bass: Work rocky points, drop-offs and gravel with tube jigs, Ned rigs, drop-shot rigs, small swimbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits. Match the rock and crawfish forage with brown, green-pumpkin and natural tones.
• Panfish/perch/crappie: Small jigs, spinners and live bait (where permitted) around weed edges, docks and submerged structure.

Quality electronics, attention to water temperature and the thermocline, and willingness to cover water are the keys to success on a lake this size.

Access & Launches

Pend Oreille is a large, developed recreational lake with multiple public boat launches and shoreline access points distributed around its perimeter, including areas near the Sandpoint community at the north end, along the western arms near the river outflow, and toward the southern and eastern reaches. Public ramps, state and county facilities, and marinas with fuel, moorage and services exist around the lake, and there are stretches of public shoreline and parks for bank and dock fishing. Because the lake is so big and exposed, launching near the area you intend to fish saves long, sometimes rough runs across open water. Always check current conditions before heading out — winds can build large waves quickly on the main basin — and confirm that any specific ramp or facility is open and accessible for the season you are visiting.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid Idaho fishing license is required for anglers of licensing age, and licenses are available from the state fish and game agency and licensed vendors. Pend Oreille is managed with species-specific rules, and limits, seasons and gear restrictions can vary by species and can change from year to year — for example, certain species may carry slot or size limits, special bag limits, or specific handling requirements. Notably, bull trout are a native, protected species in this system and are generally catch-and-release; learn to identify them and release any you catch unharmed per current rules. Before fishing, review the current Idaho Department of Fish and Game regulations for Pend Oreille Lake to confirm the up-to-date size limits, bag limits, open seasons and any special provisions or incentive programs for this water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is Pend Oreille Lake best known for?
It is famous as a coldwater trophy fishery — especially big Gerrard/Kamloops-strain rainbow trout, abundant kokanee that feed them, and large lake trout (mackinaw). Native bull trout are also present but protected. The lake's rocky shorelines additionally produce excellent smallmouth bass fishing.

Do I need a boat to fish Pend Oreille Lake?
A boat greatly expands your options on this deep, expansive lake, since the trophy trout, kokanee and lake trout are typically caught trolling or jigging in open and deep water. That said, bank and dock anglers can still catch bass, perch, crappie and other panfish from public shoreline, parks and docks, especially in spring and fall.

When is the best time to fish Pend Oreille Lake?
Spring and fall are prime, with active feeding throughout the water column and the chance at trophy trout in autumn as fish fatten up. Summer fishing is good but requires going deep to the thermocline with downriggers. Early morning and evening are the most productive times of day in any season.

How do you catch kokanee on Pend Oreille?
Troll slowly with downriggers using a small dodger or flasher ahead of a pink, orange or chartreuse hoochie, micro-spoon or beaded spinner, and tip the hooks with scented shoepeg corn. Use your electronics to locate the schools and run your lures right at the depth the fish are holding.