Lake Pend Oreille

Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Pond-oh-RAY) near Sandpoint in northern Idaho is one of the largest and deepest lakes in the American West — 148,000 acres reaching a maximum depth of 1,158 feet. The lake holds the distinction of producing the world-record Kamloops Rainbow Trout (37 pounds), and its trophy rainbow and bull trout fishery draws anglers from across the Pacific Northwest. The Kamloops Rainbow at Pend Oreille are a distinct strain — larger-growing and more pelagic than typical rainbows, spending most of their lives in the lake's open water feeding on abundant kokanee before moving to the shallows and tributary streams to spawn. These fish average 5–12 pounds in the lake with exceptional specimens over 20 pounds caught each decade. Bull trout are the lake's most ecologically significant residents — wild, native chars of extraordinary size (averaging 5–15 pounds) that are simultaneously a conservation priority and one of the lake's most exciting fishing opportunities. Bull trout must be immediately released throughout Idaho, but encountering a 10-pound bull trout on a large streamer in Pend Oreille's clear water is a genuinely unforgettable experience. Kokanee Salmon provide the most accessible summer fly fishing — trolled small bright patterns produce consistent action through July and August on the open water.