Priest Lake Fishing
A 23,335-acre Idaho lake in Bonner County.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, Public domain
Priest Lake: start here
The IDFG Fishing Planner lists Priest Lake at 23,335 acres of surface in Bonner County. Its shoreline lies around 2,438 feet above sea level by the NHD. The Planner files it under the IDFG Panhandle Region. From the outlet point, Ponderay lies near 23 miles away. Drainage line on the Planner: Flows into the Priest River. The Planner’s recommended badge sits on it.
Agency layers place 1 launch site on its shore. IDFG names it in 3 special rule lines. 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 Priest Lake fish list from IDFG
These fish come from the Planner's recommended list, IDFG survey records and stocking rows for Priest Lake.
Survey years and fish logged for Priest Lake
- Kokaneesurvey 2025
- Black Bullheadsurvey 2024
- Brook Troutsurvey 2024
- Bull Troutsurvey 2024
- Cutthroat Troutsurvey 2024
- Lake Troutsurvey 2024
- Largescale Suckersurvey 2024
- Longnose Suckersurvey 2024
- Mountain Whitefishsurvey 2024
- Northern Pikeminnowsurvey 2024
- Peamouth Chubsurvey 2024
- Rainbow Troutsurvey 2024
- Rainbow x Cutthroat Troutsurvey 2024
- Smallmouth Basssurvey 2024
- Tenchsurvey 2024
- Yellow Perchsurvey 2024
Sampling counts every fish caught, game species or not.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.
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- Kalispell Bay Boat Launch on Priest Lakeboating – motorized, ramp, USDA Forest Service
Next-closest put-ins to Priest Lake
- Chase Lake boat rampChase Lake, 7 miles south
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 Priest Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Priest Lake At Outlet Nr Coolin Id | 0.66 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Values for Priest Lake stay provisional until the agency reviews them.
The harvest rules on Priest Lake
| 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 Priest Lake; special rules override it.
Water-specific rules on Priest Lake
| Rule as printed |
|---|
| Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout, no Cutthroat Trout under 16 inches |
| Kokanee limit is 6 |
| Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout |
Special rules printed for Priest Lake 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.
Where Priest Lake ranks among local water
Among the five nearest Idaho lakes with pages, Upper Priest Lake is largest at 1,340 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Region | Recommended fish | Launch sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priest Lake | 23,335 | Panhandle Region | 6 | 1 | |
| Chase Lake | 7 miles south | 174 | Panhandle Region | 4 | 1 |
| Caribou Lake | 13 miles southeast | 5.9 | Panhandle Region | 1 | 0 |
| Harrison Lake | 13 miles northeast | 29 | Panhandle Region | 1 | 0 |
| Upper Priest Lake | 16 miles north | 1,340 | Panhandle Region | 4 | 0 |
| Walsh Lake | 19 miles southeast | 36 | Panhandle Region | 0 | 0 |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.
Down the road from Priest Lake
Other lakes in the Priest Lake country
- Chase Lake7 miles south
- Caribou Lake13 miles southeast
- Harrison Lake13 miles northeast
- Upper Priest Lake16 miles north
- Walsh Lake19 miles southeast
Picking up flies and worms on the way to Priest Lake
- Coolin Marinemarina, Coolin, 3 miles
- The Narrows Marinamarina, Nordman, 5 miles
- Bishops Marinamarina, Coolin, 6 miles
- Inland Dock & Repairmarina, Sagle, 28 miles
- Beyond Hope Resortmarina, Hope
- Dover Bay Marinamarina, Dover
Guides and outfitters for Priest Lake
- A DAY ON THE LAKE BOAT, SEA DOO AND VACATION HOME RENTALSfishing guide, Sandpoint, (877) 890-2444
- Pend Oreille Chartersfishing guide, Sandpoint, (208) 265-6781
Motels and cabins that put you near Priest Lake
- Ponderay23 miles
- Sandpoint24 miles
- Priest River26 miles
Which Gem State counties hold Priest Lake
- Bonner Countyseat: Sandpoint
Rods, reels and pliers from Piscifun before Priest Lake
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Telling the Priest Lake fish apart by sight
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Priest Lake, taken a question at a time
Which Gem State town makes the handiest base for Priest Lake?
IDFG places it in Bonner County, about 23 miles from Ponderay.
What acreage does IDFG list for Priest Lake?
IDFG lists 23,335 acres, at about 2,438 feet.
Do the agency layers show a boat ramp on Priest Lake?
1 launch site on file; try Kalispell Bay Boat Launch on Priest Lake.
What might bend a rod at Priest Lake on an ordinary Idaho day?
Expect bluegill / pumpkinseed / sunfish, kokanee, yellow perch, lake trout, cutthroat trout and smallmouth bass, per IDFG.
Which Idaho rules cover Priest Lake?
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 Priest Lake?
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 Priest Lake?
Its Planner page lists no stocking.
Where can I grab leader and hooks before Priest Lake?
Try Coolin Marine, about 3 miles away.
What does the newest level reading say about Priest Lake?
USGS reports it; the value sits in the level band.
What advisory applies to fish from Priest Lake?
Its Planner page shows a fish consumption advisory notice; read the details there before keeping fish to eat.
Block out a weekend for Priest Lake
Read the rule lines, then choose the launch closest to your spot.