Fishing Tales from Lake Pend Oreille: Legends, Lunkers & Local Lore

Look, if you’ve spent any time ‘round these parts, you already know Lake Pend Oreille ain’t your average puddle.

It’s deep—like seriously deep. Over 1,100 feet in spots. That’s submarine deep. No joke, the Navy still runs secret tests out here. We call it our hometown mystery moat.

But for most of us locals, it’s not about torpedoes or spy games. It’s about fishin’. And more than that—it’s about the stories that come from fishin’. The ones that start with “you won’t believe this” and end with “…and that sucker snapped the line clean.”

So sit back, crack a cold one, and let’s talk fish tales from the big lake.

Trout Big Enough to Haul You In

Back in 1947, ol’ Wes Hamlet hooked a Kamloops rainbow trout that tipped the scales at 37 pounds.

These trout are no accident either. They’re called Gerrards—giants from up in British Columbia, stocked back in the day. Turns out, they love our cold, deep lake. And some say there’s still monsters cruising below, just waiting to ruin someone’s reel and their ego.

Catch Fish, Make Bank? Yep.

Tag one of those toothy critters and you could walk away with a cool $1,000 thanks to Idaho Fish and Game’s Walleye Angler Incentive Program.

Just ask Chris Lewandowski from Bonners Ferry. Dude wasn’t just fishin’ for fun—he was fishin’ for cash. And he landed it.

The Beast Beneath the Boat

Ours is the so-called Pend Oreille Paddler.

Some say it’s a leftover dinosaur. Others swear it’s just a sturgeon the size of a canoe. Either way, a few cold mornings and foggy sunrises’ll have you wondering if there’s something else moving under your hull.

Where the Fish Like to Hang Out

– Under the Long Bridge – Walleye like to lurk here, especially around sunset.

– Green Monarchs – Rock piles, drop-offs, and smallmouth that fight like they’re mad at you.

– Clark Fork Delta – More fish variety than a Friday fry basket. Kokanee, trout, even the odd pike if you’re lucky—or unlucky.

Local Tips (That Might Actually Work)

– Bring a fish finder if you’re chasing the deep stuff. The good ones ain’t dumb.

– Match the hatch — try to look like what the fish already eat. If you’re throwing glow-in-the-dark gummy bears, don’t be shocked when they laugh at you.

– Talk to the bait shop guy. He’s heard every lie and probably told most of ‘em, but every now and then, he’ll give you gold.

Proof or It Didn’t Happen

Got a photo of your catch? Great. But if that thing’s smaller than your boot, maybe just say you let it go to grow bigger. Trust us—it’s the Kootenai way.

Want to see what a thousand-dollar fish looks like? See our pic of Chris Lewandowski’s winning walleye from IDFG. Photo credit: Idaho Fish and Game.

In the End…

You can keep your fancy resort lakes and high-dollar guides. Here in North Idaho, we’ve got deep water, big fish, cold beer, and good stories. Lake Pend Oreille delivers all of it—and then some.

Whether you’re after a trophy or just lookin’ for an excuse to get outta the house, the lake’s callin’. Bring your tackle. Bring your tall tales. And don’t forget to tell us about the one that almost spooled you out.