Fishing in Kootenai County, Idaho
County seat: Coeur d'Alene. Population 171,362.
- 22lake pages
- 18launch sites
- 5river pages
Pick for sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Pend Oreille: MonikaMurren, CC BY 2.0
Where the fishing in Kootenai County starts
At the 2020 Census Kootenai County held 171,362 residents, with county offices in Coeur d'Alene. By the Planner's count, 100% of the county's listed lakes and streams belong to the IDFG Panhandle Region. 1 high mountain lake in the county are filed as high mountain lakes.
Largest among 22 lake pages is Lake Pend Oreille; the set spans 132,630 acres. The access layers map 18 launch sites in the county (13 IDFG, 4 BLM and 1 Forest Service).
Census 2020 population and county seat; IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026. IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service), read November 7, 2026.
Every IDFG launch and lake page in Kootenai County, pinned
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites, BLM and Forest Service launch points, Fishing Planner lake points (outlet) and stream midpoints. Checked November 2026.
Which Kootenai County lakes have a full guide
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Pend Oreille | 92,764 | 9 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, kokanee |
| Coeur d'Alene Lake | 27,911 | 5 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, kokanee |
| Hayden Lake | 3,797 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, kokanee |
| Spirit Lake | 1,535 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, kokanee |
| Round Lake (Benewah County) | 801 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Cave Lake | 750 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Anderson Lake | 541 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Hauser Lake | 539 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Upper Twin Lake | 525 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Killarney Lake | 499 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Swan Lake (Kootenai County) | 435 | 0 | lake | black crappie, bluegill and sunfish, bullhead |
| Fernan Lake | 423 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Black Lake (Kootenai County) | 402 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Lower Twin Lake | 390 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, kokanee |
| Rose Lake | 371 | 3 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish |
| Medicine Lake | 238 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Blue Lake (Kootenai County) | 226 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Thompson Lake | 174 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Hidden Lake channel | 117 | 0 | lake | |
| Bull Run Lake | 101 | 1 | lake | bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike |
| Avondale Lake | 58 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Chilco Lake | 34 | 0 | lake |
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner, read November 7, 2026. Game fish are the Planner’s recommended species; IDFG prints no lake depths there.
For the sunfish herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 What IDFG recommends on water close to Kootenai County
Bars count lake pages within 50 miles of Coeur d'Alene where IDFG recommends or stocks each fish; largemouth bass tops it.
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish and stocking rows, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a creel survey.
Unpaged lakes across Kootenai County
5 further lakes of Kootenai County, many of them alpine, stay on this list until more is published.
| Water | Acres | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror Lake | 2 | high mountain lake | Pinehurst |
| Worley Pond | 1 | lake | Plummer |
| Post Falls Park Pond | 1 | lake | Post Falls |
| Ponderosa Springs Golf Course Pond | 0 | lake | Coeur d'Alene |
| Harrison Slough | NHD-mapped lake | Plummer |
Trail-reached alpine lakes account for 1. Idaho high mountain lakes
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026.
River guides crossing Kootenai County
- Saint Joe RiverIDFG recommended water, 3 USGS gauges, 144.9 mi Planner length
- Pend Oreille RiverIDFG recommended water, 1 USGS gauge, 139.4 mi Planner length
- Spokane RiverIDFG recommended water, 2 USGS gauges, 134.9 mi Planner length
- Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene RiverIDFG recommended water, 38.7 mi Planner length
- Coeur d'Alene River38.1 mi Planner length
Planner streams of Kootenai County without a guide (269)
- North Fork Rock Creek18.6 mi
- Lake Creek17.8 mi
- Latour Creek16.5 mi
- Independence Creek16 mi
- Wolf Lodge Creek15.7 mi
- Fernan Creek11.5 mi
- Cougar Creek11 mi
- Plummer Creek10.8 mi
- Rose Creek10.6 mi
- Spirit Creek9.6 mi
- Brickel Creek9.2 mi
- Cable Creek9.1 mi
- Marie Creek8.8 mi
- Rathdrum Creek8.7 mi
- Fourth Of July Creek8.5 mi
- Liberty Creek8.5 mi
- Evans Creek8.3 mi
- Fish Creek8.1 mi
- Fighting Creek7.8 mi
- Unnamed Stream7.7 mi
- Sage Creek7.6 mi
- Carlin Creek7.2 mi
- North Fork Mica Creek7 mi
- Blue Creek6.9 mi
- Trail Creek (Kootenai County)6.9 mi
- East Greenacres Main Ditch6.7 mi
- Stinson Creek6.7 mi
- Blue Lake Creek6.5 mi
- Canary Creek6.4 mi
- Big Elk Creek6.2 mi
- Kid Creek6.2 mi
- Beauty Creek6.1 mi
- Cedar Creek6.1 mi
- Iron Creek6.1 mi
- Squeatah Creek6.1 mi
- Bayview Creek6 mi
- Mokins Creek6 mi
- Steamchet Creek5.9 mi
- Burnt Cabin Creek5.8 mi
- West Fork Pine Creek5.8 mi
- Yellowbanks Creek5.8 mi
- Cataldo Gulch5.7 mi
- Copper Creek5.7 mi
- Leiberg Creek5.6 mi
- South Fork Mica Creek5.6 mi
- Baldy Creek5.4 mi
- Black Creek5.4 mi
- Lewellen Creek5.3 mi
- West Gold Creek5.3 mi
- Bozard Creek5.2 mi
- Lost Creek5.2 mi
- North Fork Hayden Creek5.2 mi
- Shaw Creek5.1 mi
- Turner Creek5.1 mi
- Rose Creek5 mi
- Laverne Creek4.9 mi
- Thompson Creek4.9 mi
- Killarney Creek4.8 mi
- Callis Creek4.7 mi
- McLeans Creek4.7 mi
- East Fork Hayden Creek4.6 mi
- Little Tepee Creek4.6 mi
- Murphy Creek4.6 mi
- Robinson Creek4.6 mi
- Clark Creek4.5 mi
- Skalan Creek4.5 mi
- Stewart Creek4.5 mi
- Cascade Creek4.4 mi
- Curran Creek4.4 mi
- Stella Creek4.4 mi
- West Lake Creek4.4 mi
- Willow Creek4.4 mi
- Gimlet Creek4.2 mi
- Spring Creek (Bonner County)4.2 mi
- Fortier Creek4.1 mi
- Jim Creek4.1 mi
- Picnic Creek4.1 mi
- Right Fork Hauser Creek4.1 mi
- Ross Gulch4.1 mi
- Barney Creek4 mi
Gauge stations of Kootenai County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane River Blw Blackwell Nr Coeur D Alene Id | 1,950 cfs, 25.52 ft gage height | Nov 13 11:06 pm |
| Spokane River Near Post Falls, Id | 1,800 cfs, 7.52 ft gage height | Nov 13 10:30 pm |
| Coeur D Alene River Nr Harrison Id | 505 cfs, 21.96 ft gage height | Nov 13 10:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026. Stream lengths as printed in the Planner; USGS gauges live.
The Kootenai County stocking log
Hatchery trucks made 1,006 listed stops in Kootenai County, leaving 11,514,150 fish in 13 waters.
- Avondale LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,620 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 22, 2026
- Spirit LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 989 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 16, 2026
- Hauser LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 912 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 16, 2026
- Spirit LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 4,263 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 15, 2026
- Hauser LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,088 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 15, 2026
- Hauser LakeTiger Muskellunge, 660 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 8, 2026
- Lower Twin LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 992 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 7, 2026
- Fernan LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 961 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 7, 2026
- Fernan LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 3,864 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 1, 2026
- Rose LakeChannel Catfish, 1,530 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 25, 2026
- Hauser LakeChannel Catfish, 2,805 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 12, 2026
- Fernan LakeChannel Catfish, 1,530 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 12, 2026
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026. Newest releases first.
Mapped water access across Kootenai County
- Anderson Lake Outlet boat rampAnderson Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp
- Bull Run Lake launchBull Run Lake, IDFG, boating access, camping
- CDA River – East of Rose Lake boat rampRose Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, restroom
- Hauser Lake boat rampHauser Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Hayden Lake Sportsman Park boat rampHayden Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Loffs Bay boat ramp on Coeur d'Alene LakeCoeur d'Alene Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Mica Bay boat ramp on Coeur d'Alene LakeCoeur d'Alene Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Rainy Hill Boat Launch on Medicine LakeMedicine Lake, Forest Service, boating – motorized, ramp
- Rockford Bay boat ramp on Coeur d'Alene LakeCoeur d'Alene Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock
- Rose Lake – Sportsman Park boat rampRose Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Rose Lake – Watson Road launchRose Lake, IDFG, boating access, dock, restroom
- Spirit Lake boat rampSpirit Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Thompson Lake Outlet boat rampThompson Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, restroom, camping
- Twin Lakes boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Blackwell Island Recreation Site launchlaunch site, BLM, boat launch
- Killarney Lake Boat LaunchKillarney Lake, BLM, picnic area
- Mineral Ridge Boat Launch on Coeur d'Alene LakeCoeur d'Alene Lake, BLM, boat launch
- Windy Bay Boat Launch on Coeur d'Alene LakeCoeur d'Alene Lake, BLM, boat dock
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service), read November 7, 2026. BLM and Forest Service points as published; lanes and ramp counts are not fields in any layer.
IDFG region table for Kootenai County
Rows below come from the IDFG Panhandle Region, which covers the bulk of the county's Planner waters; water-specific rules override them. The statute behind Idaho licenses, Code 36-416, puts the annual fishing fee at $28.75 resident and $106.25 nonresident; sale prices run a little higher.
| Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | 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 | Chinook Salmon limit is 2, none under 24 inches |
| Kokanee | Kokanee limit is 15 |
| Northern Pike | No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| 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 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| Walleye | No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| 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 | No bag, length, or possession limit |
Special rules on Kootenai County lakes and streams (15)
- Anderson LakeBass limit is 6, only two may be Largemouth Bass, no Largemouth Bass under 16 inches
- Avondale LakeElectric motors only
- Black Lake (Kootenai County)Contact the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Office
- Blue Lake (Kootenai County)Bass limit is 6, only two may be Largemouth Bass, no Largemouth Bass under 16 inches
- Coeur d'Alene LakeTrout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Coeur d'Alene RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Hayden LakeBass limit is 6, only two may be Largemouth Bass, no Largemouth Bass under 20 inches
- Hidden Lake channelContact the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Office
- Lake Pend OreilleNo limit on the number of fishing rods per angler while fishing from a boat
- Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Pend Oreille RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Round Lake (Benewah County)Contact the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Office
- Saint Joe RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Spirit LakeKokanee limit is 25
- Spokane RiverAll Waters Open All Year
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Panhandle Region, as printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (the brochure PDF on idfg.idaho.gov was unreachable during site maintenance), read November 7, 2026. Fishing license fees as set in Idaho Code 36-416 (statute; IDFG sale prices add vendor and processing fees), read November 7, 2026.
IDFG record announcements close to Kootenai County
| Species | Record | Kind | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westslope Cutthroat Trout | 27 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Lake Pend Oreille | Feb. 1, 2026 |
| Northern Pike | 49.75 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Lake Pend Oreille | June 13, 2026 |
Idaho state record fish, read November 8, 2026. A partial list: records IDFG announced in 2026.
Organizer events fishing Kootenai County water
Kootenai County water shows up in 9 organizer listings, 1 not yet held.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 21, 2026 | LPOIC Fall Thanksgiving Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2026 LPOIC Spring Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2025 LPOIC Spring Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2025 LPOIC Fall Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2024 LPOIC Fall Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2024 LPOIC Spring Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2026 LPOIC Members Only Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2025 LPOIC Members Only Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2024 LPOIC Members Only Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Kootenai County fly shops and guide services
Idaho fly shops and bait counters of Kootenai County
- Beckers Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene
- Cabela's, 101 N Cabela Waybait and tackle shop, Post Falls
- Castaway Fly Fishing Shopfly shop, Coeur D Alene
- Fins & Feathers Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene
- Happy Hooker Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Post Falls
- Harrison Trading Co Incbait and tackle shop, Harrison
- Northwest Classic Tackle, 2699 E Packsaddle Drbait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene
- Northwest Classic Tackle, 9751 N Government Waybait and tackle shop, Hayden
- Sierra, 440 W Wilbur Avebait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene
- Sportsman & Ski Hausbait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene
- Weight Fowardbait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene
- Beauty Bay Marinamarina, Coeur D Alene
- Bi-Mart Rathdrumsporting goods store, Rathdrum
- Bitter End Marinamarina, Bayview
- Black Rock Marinamarina, Coeur D Alene
- Boardwalk Marinamarina, Coeur D Alene
- Coeur D'alene Boat Companymarina, Coeur D Alene
- Discovery Marinamarina, Harrison
- Hagadone Marine Groupmarina, Coeur D Alene
- Hayden Lake Marinamarina, Hayden
- Lafferty Alice & Richard Smarina, Rathdrum
- Post Falls Landing Marinamarina, Post Falls
- Scenic Bay Marina/J D Marinamarina, Bayview
- Shooters Bar & Grillmarina, Coeur D Alene
- Silver Beach Marinamarina, Coeur D Alene
- Tobler Marinamarina, Hayden
Guided trips listed for Kootenai County
- Northwest Outfitters – Orvisfishing guide, Coeur D Alene, (208) 667-2707
- RICKS ON THE HOOK GUIDE SERVICEfishing guide, Coeur D Alene, (208) 691-1737
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings (city of business); retrieved November 7, 2026.
Idaho backroads fanning out from Kootenai County
Town guides inside Kootenai County
- Coeur d'Alenepop. 54,628
- Post Fallspop. 38,485
- Haydenpop. 15,570
- Rathdrumpop. 9,211
- Dalton Gardenspop. 2,537
- Spirit Lakepop. 2,337
County pages next to Kootenai County
- Benewah County32 miles south
- Shoshone County44 miles southeast
- Bonner County45 miles north
- Latah County59 miles south
Piscifun reels and line packed for Kootenai County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Reservoirs, alpine lakes and canyon runs close to Kootenai County, in pictures
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, Public domain
Photo: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fishing within Kootenai County: the usual questions
Where can a trailer reach the water in Kootenai County?
There are 18 launch sites, split as 13 IDFG, 4 BLM and 1 Forest Service.
Which Planner lake hands Kootenai County anglers the most surface?
Lake Pend Oreille, at 92,764 acres in the IDFG Fishing Planner.
Which IDFG game fish should a Kootenai County visitor pack for?
Largemouth bass lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by yellow perch, bluegill and sunfish and bullhead.
Which Kootenai County stores stock hooks, sinkers and Idaho flies?
26 listings, such as Beckers Tackle Shop.
How many Idaho outfitters list Kootenai County as home base?
Listings put 2 guide listings here.
Which Idaho town serves as seat of Kootenai County?
It is Coeur d'Alene.
What is the license fee to fish Kootenai County?
The statute behind Idaho licenses, Code 36-416, puts the annual fishing fee at $28.75 resident and $106.25 nonresident; sale prices run a little higher.
Which Idaho county pages sit next to Kootenai County?
Try Benewah County, Shoshone County and Bonner County.
Which region table applies in Kootenai County?
The IDFG Panhandle Region takes 100% of them; the rest follow neighbouring regions.
When is the next Kootenai County weigh-in on the calendar?
9 events on file; next is LPOIC Fall Thanksgiving Derby on Lake Pend Oreille, Nov. 21, 2026.
Does the 2025-2027 brochure print rules for Kootenai County water?
The Planner prints special rules for 15 county waters with a page here, starting with Anderson Lake; the list above shows the first ones.
Which 2026 records were set in Kootenai County?
Westslope Cutthroat Trout, 27 inches (catch-and-release (length)), from Lake Pend Oreille, announced by IDFG in 2026.
Where is the stocked water in Kootenai County?
1,006 IDFG releases listed on Planner pages, 11,514,150 fish; the newest went into Avondale Lake on Oct. 22, 2026.
Spend a Gem State morning on Kootenai County water
River pages list game fish and USGS flow.