Lake Pend Oreille fishing advice

[andersonjk4]

Anyone ever done any fishing on Lake Pend Oreille by Sandpoint ID?  I'm going to stay 4 days at my fiancé's family lake cabin and plan on spending lots of time fishing.  I've never fished this lake other than off of their dock last year (caught one squaw fish and a whitefish).  I normally fish for bass and that's what most all of my gear is for, so I would love to get into some bass and/or pike.  But I've heard this lake produces good silver and lake trout fishing.  I just want to get into some fish and not waste the $ its going to cost to buy an out of state license.  Any info will be much appreciated. 

[Holg3107]

I don't have a whole lot of experience fishing for Maks or Camloops there but have done quite a bit of bass fishing. If you have access to a boat run down the river, there is some great bass fishing between Dover and Priest River. Lots of shallow structure and underwater vegetation so you should have no trouble finding some large mouth if you are able.

I cant really help you on the rest of the lake as I have minimal experience outside of the river channel, either way you will have a great time!

[Skillet]

You closer to Sandpoint or Bayview?

[andersonjk4]

You closer to Sandpoint or Bayview?

Sandpoint.  The cabin is on Bottle Bay.

I'll have my little 14' aluminum with a 15hp on it so I can motor a ways, but I will be limited to the north half of the lake.  Unless there is a good launch somewhere else I could take a day trip to. 

Thanks for the info so far.  I may try and make a trip over to the PO River.  I have fished the Washington section of it quite a few times. 

[Skillet]

The macks and Kamloops have been hammered pretty hard with the bounty they had on them.  Believe it or not, there is a growing population of walleye in that lake that are caught up by the PO river outlet and the CF river mouth.  Spawn is over, so they won't be concentrated, but they might be worth dragging some gear for.   

FWIW, I do know the guys that are still catching rainbows in the lake are dragging flies and Apex's off of planer boards at daybreak and dusk.  It is my understanding that these fish are very, very boat shy. 

Good luck!