Pend Oreille River

A major 139-mile river, tributary of the Columbia River, draining Lake Pend Oreille. Outstanding warmwater fishing for bass, walleye, perch, and crappie. Also holds brown trout and westslope cutthroat. Full range of facilities available.

Species: Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Smallmouth Bass, White Crappie, Kokanee Salmon. Difficulty: intermediate. Some experience pays off here.

Best timing: Spring and Summer and Fall. Spring fishing keys on warming water and emerging insects. Summer fishes best at first light and late evening; midday is technical. Fall is prime — heavy feeding before winter, fewer crowds.

Regulations: Bass limit 6, only 2 Largemouth, none under 16 inches. Trout limit 6, no harvest of Cutthroat. Always confirm with the current IDFG rule book before fishing.

Panhandle context

Idaho's Panhandle is defined by its big, deep-water lakes and a temperate, lake-effect climate. Lake Pend Oreille produces Gerrard rainbows and lake trout; Coeur d'Alene Lake holds the state's strongest mixed warm-water fishery (smallmouth, northern pike, perch); the St. Joe is one of the most photographed wild westslope cutthroat rivers in the Lower 48. Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, and St. Maries are the bases.

Plan for the experience level the fishery rewards.