Lake Pend Oreille
lake in Idaho
Deep, clear alpine reservoir offering year-round fly opportunities for lake trout, kokanee, and resident trout species; popular launch points at Sandpoint, Bayview and Hope.
Cool autumn conditions (50°F
- 01Cool autumn conditions (50°F, clear skies, light wind) on Lake Pend Oreille.
- 02Subsurface food sources like Mysis shrimp, chironomids, leeches, and baitfish are primary targets.
- 03Kokanee Salmon spawning activity makes egg patterns highly effective for trout and char.
- 04Focus on deeper water, submerged structure, ledges, and drop-offs for predatory fish.
- 05Shallow bays, especially around Hope Peninsula, may still yield smallmouth bass on warmer afternoons.
- 06Utilize slow, methodical retrieves and sinking lines to reach fish in deep holding areas.
Past reports week by week
10 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Orange Tungsten Eggs
Kokanee Salmon are present and likely dropping eggs, making this a relevant pattern for trout and char during the fall spawning season.
Balanced Leech (Black)
Leeches are a consistent food source for predatory fish like Lake Trout, Bull Trout, and larger Rainbows in stillwaters.
Chironomid Pupa
Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round in stillwaters, especially in deep lakes like Pend Oreille.
Buy at AmazonOlive Woolly Bugger
A versatile pattern mimicking baitfish and leeches, crucial for opportunistic predators in deep, cold water.
Mysis Shrimp (Nymph)
Lake Pend Oreille is a large, deep lake, and Mysis shrimp are a staple food source for trout, Kokanee, and Burbot in such environments.
White Woolly Bugger
Imitates Kokanee and Whitefish, key forage for Lake Trout and Bull Trout in deep lakes.
Zebra Midge (Black)
Midges are a consistent food source, and this weighted pattern is effective for targeting subsurface feeders in deep, cold water.
Blood Dot Egg
Kokanee Salmon are present and likely spawning or dropping eggs, attracting opportunistic feeders like trout and char.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Bayview / Farragut State Park area
Popular southern bay with access to deep-water structure and kokanee concentrations.
Hope / North Arm
Quiet northern arm access point known for early-morning lake trout and kokanee action.
Sandpoint / City Beach Launch
Major public launch and staging area for access to the productive northern basins and drop-offs.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Long Drift Outfitters
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Idaho season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
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Quick answers
Common questions about Lake Pend Oreille.
What flies work best on Lake Pend Oreille?
Our top scored fly patterns for Lake Pend Oreille right now are Orange Tungsten Eggs (80% confidence), Balanced Leech (80% confidence), Zebra Midge (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Lake Pend Oreille?
Lake Pend Oreille holds Rainbow Trout (Gerrard-strain), Bull Trout, Lake Trout (Mackinaw), Kokanee Salmon, Mountain Whitefish, Westslope Cutthroat Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Lake Pend Oreille fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Lake Pend Oreille each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.