North Idaho Sports & Outdoor Recreation

North Idaho Hunting & Fishing

Fabulous Fish Stories

The outdoor sportsman is at home in Northern Idaho and Lake Coeur d'Alene is an angler's paradise. The lake has produced a 42 lb. Chinook Salmon (most are 3-7 lbs.). Large and small mouth bass, kokanee, northern pike, rainbow trout, and mackinaw are also plentiful. Hayden Lake produced a (state record setting) 39.9 lb. pike. Large outdoor sporting goods retailers (Cabela's is opened in Post Falls late 2007), as well as charter fishing companies and guided outfitters can help you plan your trip. See www.ioga.idaho.gov for a list of all licensed Idaho outfitters and guides.

Water from this region yield one-third of the state's record fish. Lake Pend Oreille's famous kamloops have produced a world record 37-pounder. Lake Coeur d'Alene is known for its large chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. Other area species include: trout, crappie, perch, large-mouth bass, bullheads, channel catfish, blue gills, sunfish, northern pike, and tiger muskies. Northern pike are generally the first species to become active in the spring. Fernan, Twin, Spirit and Hayden lakes all provide northern pike fishing.

In the Panhandle Region there are a limited number of large rivers that remain open year round, including the Kootenai River, Pend Oreille River, Priest River, Clark Fork River above the railroad bridge at Clark Fork, and the slack water portions of the St. Joe and St. Maries rivers. The more traditional "trout fishing" type rivers that most anglers think about are managed with the general stream and river season of Memorial Day Saturday through November 30.

The only inland western state with ocean-run salmon and steelhead, Idaho hatchery runs provide an exciting fishing experience, including world-class blue-ribbon wild trout streams. The St. Joe River is known for its great fly fishing opportunities and unmatched scenic beauty. Lake and river elevations in the Panhandle range from 2,100 at Priest River to 8,643 at Needle Peak. The rugged mountains of Idaho contain more than 1,500 high mountain lakes with good trout fishing. Most of Idaho fishing waters are located in the public domain and are open to the public with free access.

All family fishing areas have year 'round seasons, general six-fish limits for trout and bass (no limits on other species), no length limits and any standard fishing gear may be used. Some lakes are restricted to electric motors only.

Round Lake - Sandpoint: Hwy 95 to Dufort Road to Round Lake State Park.
Bull Moose Lake - Priest Lake: Hwy 57 from Priest River, east to Coolin then north.
Kelso Lake - Athol: Hwy 95 three miles north of Athol, Granite Lake/Kelso Lake turnoff to west.
Falls Park Pond - Post Falls: Spokane St. exit off I-90, 1/2 block to 4th St., two blocks west.
Lower Glidden Lake - Wallace: East on I-90 to Wallace and Canyon Creek exit, Cooper Pass/Burke Summit.
Elsie Lake - Kellogg: I-90 east to Big Creek exit, Big Creek Road, south to top of mountain.
Fernan Lake - Coeur d'Alene: I-90 Sherman St. exit, one block at east end of Sherman Ave.

For a complete listing of family fishing waters in the panhandle visit www.fishandgame.idaho.gov

Fishing Tournaments

Spring Fishing Derby. Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club. 264-5796
American Bass Tournament. Lake Pend Oreille / Hope Boat Basin. 773-9443
American Bass Tournament. Lake Coeur d'Alene / Harrison. 773-9443
Thanksgiving Fishing Derby. Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club. 263-0424

Fish in the Freeze

Bundling up and heading out to North Idaho lakes in the middle of winter is a popular pastime for the hardiest of fishing enthusiasts. Standard ice fishing equipment includes an auger for drilling through the ice, a bucket for hauling home the catch, a Thermos of hot chocolate or coffee, a chair and patience. Smaller lakes in the panhandle are most likely to be frozen at safe levels by mid-January. Two popular ice fishing lakes are Fernan in Coeur d'Alene and the north end of Hayden Lake.

The elk population in North Idaho has rebounded from a devastatingly cold and icy winter in 1996, and harvest statistics now equal or exceed those of 25 years ago. The Coeur d’Alene Mountains are considered to be among the best for trophy bulls because of the good cover and terrain. Since the federal wolf relocation program in the 1990s wolf packs have entered into the St. Joe River drainage in their northern migration, which may affect the harvest in the coming years.

Bear Facts

Black bear and grizzly bear are found in the Idaho panhandle. Grizzly are found only in a few places furthest north in the Bonners Ferry wilderness but black bear are found throughout the northern part of the state. When hunting in grizzly country, carrying pepper spray is recommended. The mere presence of a bear doesn't always pose a risk. Stay calm. The vast majority of bears will leave an area when they become aware of human presence.
-Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Links

State of Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation - www.idahoparks.org
State of Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board - www.oglb.idaho.gov
Center Target Sports - www.centertargetsports.com 
Moose Camp Sports - www.moosecampsports.com 
Ducks Unlimited - www.ducks.org
Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club - www.lpoic.com
Inland Empire Bass Club - www.inlandempirebassclub.com
American Bass Association - www.americanbass.com

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Outfitters, Charters & Guides

3 Heart Outfitters 267-5858 Adventure Guide Service 772-5267 All About Adventures 263-6959 Black Pine Farm 683-3244 Blue Ribbon Charters 661-6969 Buckshot Outfitting 290-2144 Castaway Fly Fishing Shop 765-3133 Clark Fork Outfitters 266-1910 Coeur d'Alene Charters 765-8777 Fins & Feathers 667-9304 Hooked on Fish Guide Service 661-2919 Idaho Whitetail Guides 826-3405 Lake Charters Inc 667-3474 Moosecamp Sports 667-6994 Panhandle Outfitters (509) 922-8289 Pend Oreille Charters 265-6781 Priest Lake Outdoor Adventures 443-6552 North Idaho Mountain Outfitting 443-2703 Red Horse Mountain Lodge 689-9680 River Odyssey West 765-0841 Wilderness Charters of the Priest Lake 255-5584

Department of Fish and Game Coeur d'Alene Regional Headquarters 769-1414 Need a hunting or fishing license? Find out how to get your North Idaho Hunting & Fishing License.
Bonners Ferry 267-7629 Clark Fork 266-1501 Kellogg 682-4674 Moyie Springs 267-7629 Naples 267-4085 Priest River 448-2302	Rathdrum 265-8320 Sagle 265-8320 Sandpoint 265-8835 St. Maries 245-8100 Wallace 556-1513

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Idaho Panhandle National Forest Supervisors Office 3815 Schreiber Way - Coeur d'Alene - 765-7223 www.fs.fed.us/ipnf North of I-90, between U.S. Hwy. 95 and Ramsey Road on Kathleen Ave.

Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District - Fernan Office 2502 E. Sherman Ave. - Coeur d'Alene 769-3000 East of I-90 at exit 15   Priest Lake Ranger District 32203 Hwy. 57 - Priest River 443-2512 On St. Hwy. 57, mile post 32, 3 miles south of Nordman   Bonners Ferry Ranger District 6286 Main St. - Bonners Ferry 267-5561 1 mile south of Bonners Ferry on U.S. Hwy. 95   Sandpoint Ranger District 1500 Hwy 2, #110 - Sandpoint 263-5111 West edge of Sandpoint on U.S. Hwy. 2

Silver Valley Office 173 Commerce Dr. - Smelterville 783-2100 South of I-90 at exit 48   St. Joe Ranger District - St. Maries Office 222 S. 7th St., #1 - St. Maries 245-2531 Federal Building in downtown St. Maries   - Avery Office Avery - 245-4517 6 miles west of Avery on Forest Hwy. 50 (St. Joe River Rd.)   - Clarkia Office 54495 Hwy 3 - Clarkia 245-1134 1 mile south of Clarkia on Hwy 3