Lake Pend Oreille
Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho's largest lake, near Sandpoint in the Panhandle. It is known for kokanee and for trophy rainbow trout, lake trout and bull trout that feed on them.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Rainbow Trout
Big Kamloops-type rainbows follow kokanee schools, so troll near bait you see on the graph.
Kokanee
Troll small dodgers with hoochies or wedding rings and find the depth of the schools first.
Lake Trout
Use electronics to find deep bottom structure and bait.
Smallmouth Bass
Fish rocky points and breaks between shallow and deep water.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | ||||||||||||
| Kokanee | ||||||||||||
| Lake Trout | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass |
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Garfield Bay Boat LaunchFreeBonner County launch at Garfield Bay, Sagle; free, day use only, good at low waterDirections ↗
- Hope Boat LaunchFreeBonner County launch off Highway 200 East near Hope; free, good at low waterDirections ↗
- City Beach Boat LaunchFreeCity launch at Sandpoint City Beach; freeDirections ↗
- Bayview Boat RampFreePublic ramp in Bayview at the south end of the lake; freeDirections ↗
- Sam Owen Boat LaunchPublicPublic launch at Sam Owen Recreation Area near HopeDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee Idaho Fish & Game or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout Harvest encouraged | See Idaho rules book ↗ | No limit |
| Rainbow Trout Only 1 may be over 20 in | See Idaho rules book ↗ | 2 / day |
| Largemouth Bass Only 2 may be largemouth (combined with smallmouth 6) | 16 in | 6 / day combined |
| Smallmouth Bass Only 2 of the 6 may be largemouth | See Idaho rules book ↗ | 6 / day combined |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Idaho Department of Fish and Game ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Happy Hooker Live BaitNearby27786 N Fall St, Athol, ID(208) 623-6181Directions ↗
- North 40 Outfitters ↗Nearby477181 N Hwy 95, Ponderay, ID(208) 255-5757Directions ↗
Local tips
- Sign up for the Angler Incentive Program; Fish and Game pays cash for lake trout and walleye you turn in.
- In winter, fish shallow areas near Sandpoint and the outlet for yellow perch.
- Wind builds fast on this big lake, so pick your launch at Sandpoint, Bayview or a state park based on the forecast.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Pend Oreille.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.