Lake Pend Oreille Fishing — Species, Lures & Gear | Backwater Outlaw Atlas

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Lake Pend Oreille

Lake Pend Oreille · near Sandpoint · year-round

Idaho's largest and deepest lake, famous for giant Kamloops rainbow trout.

rainbow trout
rainbow trout
lake trout
lake trout
kokanee salmon
kokanee salmon
year-roundnear SandpointAPPROX — NEAR SANDPOINTIdaho's largest and deepest lake, 1,158 feet deep, 148 sq miles; Gerrard/Kamloops rainbows follow thermoclines - spring from surface to 100…

Depth & Structure

Idaho's largest and deepest lake, 1,158 feet deep, 148 sq miles; Gerrard/Kamloops rainbows follow thermoclines - spring from surface to 100 feet, summer 80-140 feet deep, fall rainbows 25-75 feet then 80+ feet, winter jigging 80-200 feet

Best Lures

Trolling plugs, bucktail flies and spoons/spinners for rainbows at 1.6-2.2 mph in spring and slower deep trolling with flashers in summer, jigging spoons/jigs on rocky points and drop-offs, kokanee trolling small spoons/spinners behind downriggers

Best Baits

artificials primary; kokanee spinners tipped with maggot and white corn per local tactics summary

Gear to Bring

Medium trolling rods with downriggers/leaded line for deep work, electronics essential on this very large lake, 4WD and sand for icy winter ramps, boat fishery

Local Tips

['Rainbows tend to follow thermoclines more than food source per long-time local guide account; glow presentations are key in summer deep water', 'Lake can become very rough in wind/weather - caution for small watercraft']

Shop the Rig

Rotating Spinner Lure Set | 16-Piece with Case

Rotating spinner set

Rotating Spinner Lure Set | 16-Piece with Case

$16.00

Related Water

Sources: {'depth_profile': 'http://northwestfishingreports.com/Articles/Details/1012', 'best_lures': 'http://northwestfishingreports.com/Articles/Details/1012', 'best_baits': 'https://www.sandpoint.com/recreation/fishing.php', 'local_tips': 'http://northwestfishingreports.com/Articles/Details/1012'}
Fish photos: rainbow trout — Wikimedia Commons · lake trout — Wikimedia Commons · kokanee salmon — Wikimedia Commons
Fishing regulations, seasons and limits change — always check the current rules for this water before you fish. Spot pins are approximate area markers, not launch or access coordinates.