Lake Pend Oreille Fishing
A 92,764-acre Idaho lake in Bonner and Kootenai counties.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Lake Pend Oreille: start here
The IDFG Fishing Planner lists Lake Pend Oreille at 92,764 acres of surface in Bonner and Kootenai counties. Its shoreline lies around 2,062 feet above sea level by the NHD. The Planner files it under the IDFG Panhandle Region. From the outlet point, Sandpoint lies near 13 miles away. Drainage line on the Planner: Flows into the Pend Oreille River. The Planner’s recommended badge sits on it.
Agency layers place 9 launch sites on its shore. IDFG names it in 5 special rule lines. Hatchery crews account for 172 stocking records since 1968. Expect a boat ramp, dock, toilet, campground and accessible facilities, per the Planner. Fish from it come with an advisory notice on the Planner.
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (water page), read November 7, 2026. Elevation from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset and GNIS for the matched lake outline, read November 7, 2026. Census 2020 places.
The Lake Pend Oreille fish list from IDFG
These fish come from the Planner's recommended list, IDFG survey records and stocking rows for Lake Pend Oreille.
Survey years and fish logged for Lake Pend Oreille
- Largemouth Basssurvey 2023
- Smallmouth Basssurvey 2023
- Black Crappiesurvey 2020
- Brook Troutsurvey 2020
- Brown Bullheadsurvey 2020
- Bull Troutsurvey 2020
- Cutthroat Troutsurvey 2020
- Kokaneesurvey 2020
- Lake Whitefishsurvey 2020
- Largescale Suckersurvey 2020
- Longnose Suckersurvey 2020
- Mountain Whitefishsurvey 2020
- Northern Pikesurvey 2020
- Northern Pikeminnowsurvey 2020
- Peamouth Chubsurvey 2020
- Pumpkinseedsurvey 2020
Sampling counts every fish caught, game species or not.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 IDFG, BLM and Forest Service ramps on Lake Pend Oreille
- Clark Fork Driftyard boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Denton Slough launch on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, restroom
- Garfield Bay boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Hawkins Point – Pack River boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Hoodoo Creek launch on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access
- Johnson Creek boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Morton Slough boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Pringle Park – East Hope boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Sunnyside Park boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreilleboating access, ramp
Next-closest put-ins to Lake Pend Oreille
- Shepherd Lake boat rampShepherd Lake, 8 miles west
- Cocolalla Lake boat rampCocolalla Lake, 12 miles west
The Planner lists no motor restriction here.
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer, BLM Idaho recreation site points and USDA Forest Service recreation opportunities (EDW), read November 7, 2026.
Water level on Lake Pend Oreille
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Pend Oreille Nr Hope, Id | 57.95 ft gage height | Oct 14 6:15 pm Not updated since Oct 14, 2026. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USACE Northwestern Division water management data, ALF.Elev-Forebay.Inst.1Hour.0.CBT-REV, reading for November 7, 2026, retrieved November 7, 2026; series datum not stated. Provisional.
USACE Northwestern Division water management data, HOPI.Elev-Lake.Inst.1Hour.0.GOES-REV, reading for November 7, 2026, retrieved November 7, 2026; series datum not stated. Provisional.
Values for Lake Pend Oreille stay provisional until the agency reviews them.
Stocking records for Lake Pend Oreille
Lake Pend Oreille has 172 hatchery rows on file between 1968 and 2026, latest first.
- KokaneeKokanee, 52,941 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 17, 2026
- Kokanee (triploid)Kokanee – Triploid, 121,097 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 17, 2026
- KokaneeKokanee, 2,338,618 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 16, 2026
- KokaneeKokanee, 3,311,965 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 15, 2026
- KokaneeKokanee, 137,318 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 25, 2025
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner page (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
The harvest rules on Lake Pend Oreille
| Group | Region 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 |
The IDFG Panhandle Region block sets the default at Lake Pend Oreille; special rules override it.
Water-specific rules on Lake Pend Oreille
IDFG groups them under "Lake Pend Oreille (includes Sand, Strong, Riser, Bayview, and Mirror creeks and their tributaries)".
| Rule as printed |
|---|
| No limit on the number of fishing rods per angler while fishing from a boat |
| Bass limit is 6, only two may be Largemouth Bass, no Largemouth Bass under 16 inches |
| No limit on Lake Trout. Lake trout may be possesed in the field or in transit with the head removed. |
| No harvest of Cutthroat Trout |
| Rainbow trout limit is 2, only 1 over 20 inches. |
Special rules printed for Lake Pend Oreille (includes Sand, Strong, Riser, Bayview, and Mirror creeks and their tributaries) on its IDFG Fishing Planner page (Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027), read November 7, 2026.
Fishing here takes an Idaho fishing license; Idaho Code 36-416 sets the annual statutory fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents, and steelhead or salmon fishing takes its own permit.
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 naming Lake Pend Oreille
| Species | Size | Category | Water as printed | Caught | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westslope Cutthroat Trout | 27 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Lake Pend Oreille | 2026-02-01 | source |
| Northern Pike | 49.75 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Lake Pend Oreille | 2026-06-13 | source |
Idaho state record fish, read November 8, 2026.
Bass, kokanee and trout contests at Lake Pend Oreille
Open the Lake Pend Oreille tournament page for schedules and results.
Where Lake Pend Oreille ranks among local water
Among the five nearest Idaho lakes with pages, Shepherd Lake is largest at 135 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Region | Recommended fish | Launch sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Pend Oreille | 92,764 | Panhandle Region | 15 | 9 | |
| Gamlin Lake | 5 miles north | 103 | Panhandle Region | 5 | 0 |
| Mirror Lake | 7 miles west | 85 | Panhandle Region | 3 | 0 |
| Shepherd Lake | 9 miles west | 135 | Panhandle Region | 4 | 1 |
| Antelope Lake (Bonner County) | 9 miles east | 18 | Panhandle Region | 2 | 0 |
| Porcupine Lake | 9 miles northeast | 10 | Panhandle Region | 2 | 0 |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.
Down the road from Lake Pend Oreille
Other lakes in the Lake Pend Oreille country
- Gamlin Lake5 miles north
- Mirror Lake7 miles west
- Shepherd Lake9 miles west
- Antelope Lake (Bonner County)9 miles east
- Porcupine Lake9 miles northeast
Picking up flies and worms on the way to Lake Pend Oreille
- Beyond Hope Resortmarina, Hope, 5 miles
- Inland Dock & Repairmarina, Sagle, 10 miles
- Scenic Bay Marina/J D Marinamarina, Bayview, 15 miles
- Bitter End Marinamarina, Bayview, 15 miles
- Bishops Marinamarina, Coolin
- Coolin Marinemarina, Coolin
Guides and outfitters for Lake Pend Oreille
- A DAY ON THE LAKE BOAT, SEA DOO AND VACATION HOME RENTALSfishing guide, Sandpoint, (877) 890-2444
- Northwest Outfitters – Orvisfishing guide, Coeur D Alene, (208) 667-2707
- Pend Oreille Chartersfishing guide, Sandpoint, (208) 265-6781
- RICKS ON THE HOOK GUIDE SERVICEfishing guide, Coeur D Alene, (208) 691-1737
Motels and cabins that put you near Lake Pend Oreille
- Sandpoint13 miles
- Ponderay13 miles
- Priest River26 miles
Which Gem State counties hold Lake Pend Oreille
- Bonner Countyseat: Sandpoint
- Kootenai Countyseat: Coeur d'Alene
Rods, reels and pliers from Piscifun before Lake Pend Oreille
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling the Lake Pend Oreille fish apart by sight
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Thenextvoice, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Lake Pend Oreille, taken a question at a time
Which Gem State town makes the handiest base for Lake Pend Oreille?
IDFG places it in Bonner and Kootenai counties, about 13 miles from Sandpoint.
What acreage does IDFG list for Lake Pend Oreille?
IDFG lists 92,764 acres, at about 2,062 feet.
Do the agency layers show a boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreille?
9 launch sites on file; try Clark Fork Driftyard boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreille.
What might bend a rod at Lake Pend Oreille on an ordinary Idaho day?
Expect bluegill / pumpkinseed / sunfish, bullhead catfish, kokanee, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and yellow perch, per IDFG.
Which Idaho rules cover Lake Pend Oreille?
Under the IDFG Panhandle Region block: Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately. Kokanee: Kokanee limit is 15. Its own rule lines are in the limits band and override that.
Which license covers Lake Pend Oreille?
Fishing here takes an Idaho fishing license; Idaho Code 36-416 sets the annual statutory fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents, and steelhead or salmon fishing takes its own permit.
What has IDFG released into Lake Pend Oreille?
Yes; the newest row is Kokanee, 52,941 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 17, 2026.
Where can I grab leader and hooks before Lake Pend Oreille?
Try Beyond Hope Resort, about 5 miles away.
What does the newest level reading say about Lake Pend Oreille?
USGS reports it; the value sits in the level band.
What record-class fish has Lake Pend Oreille given up lately?
IDFG announced a catch-and-release (length) record for Westslope Cutthroat Trout at 27 inches (Lake Pend Oreille), caught 2026-02-01; anglers are not named here.
What advisory applies to fish from Lake Pend Oreille?
Its Planner page shows a fish consumption advisory notice; read the details there before keeping fish to eat.
Block out a weekend for Lake Pend Oreille
Read the rule lines, then choose the launch closest to your spot.