Pike fishing on the Pend Oreille River

[YJ Guide Service]

There is a small campground across the hwy from the cusick boat launch turnoff. Its located right next to the fairgrounds.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Thanks for the info!

[oldleclercrd]

Im pretty sure you need a tribal pass for certain sloughs.... We have a cabin on the Pend Oreille River, and last year my mom was shoveling snow off of our dock into the river and a pike tried to bite the snow when she threw it in the river. I cant seem to figure out why my wife wont swim in there

[WAcoyotehunter]

if you're in a boat you can fish wherever.  No fishing from the bank on the reservation- which is a small portion of the reservoir.

[bearpaw]

if you're in a boat you can fish wherever.  No fishing from the bank on the reservation- which is a small portion of the reservoir.

Do they sell non-tribal fishing permits?

[YJ Guide Service]

Actually you cant fish certain sloughs around Cusick, and you cant fish any of the sloughs from usk all the way almost to Riverbend on the Tribal side of the river. You can buy a tribal permit to fish the slough right out of Cusick but thats the only one its good for. This river is a little diffrent then Lake Roosevelt or the Columbia are when it comes to the tribal stuff. You can fish the main part of the river on the tribal side just cant go in any of the sloughs. The Pike fishing use to be even better than it is now, alot bigger fish 4-5 years ago into the 20-30lb range pretty often. Now a average fish is about 5-9lbs 22-30 inches.

[YJ Guide Service]

Was able to fish again today for a few hours and had alot of Pike on and alot of follows. Looks like its Pike fishing time.

[Ripper]

I use to catch water wolves all the time in Indiana growing up. They are a blast to catch. Bony, but good to eat. I hate to see them wiped out, too bad the fish can't just get along!

[YJ Guide Service]

They do get along with others its just this state doesnt think they do. They live with trout,walleye,bass, and other fish just fine back East and in Canada. Its only here they dont think they do LOL...They did stomach  research surveys on 755 a couple years ago and only found 5 trout and a few bass in their stomachs everything else was perch, white fish, crappie, tinch, pike minnow, but mostly perch. Good fishing everyone

[Russ McDonald]

I grew up in Minnesota big time pike fishing there.  Same thing they live all together.  It's called the circle of life things getting eaten.  I am going to get some pike fishing in this year for sure.
 

[YJ Guide Service]

I agree its a nature does what it does thing. The fished moved here all the way from Noxin MT without the help of humans. They were introduced in MT  illegally though. Seems like Canada and Backeast love their Pike fisheries.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Big Pike are an awesome fisherie, I grew up in NY fishing them. I agree they co exist with most other fish.

What I find completely oxy moron, is the WDFW plant tigers in lakes and then turn around and plant trout in there, sometimes their logic is so backwards I have no idea what they are thinking.

They can spend a ton of money in there with gill nets, that will be a waste of time, effort and money, once a pike gets into a system they are there to stay.

Nice looking fish you caught...

Joe

[Russ McDonald]

Yea and Muskies and Pike are the same family.  Why are they not complaing about those.  Is it because they are not making it into the river systems?

[YJ Guide Service]

The state actually plants the sterile Tiger Muskies to clean up lakes of garbage fish, which is exactly what the Pike are doing in the PO River. Its true they are in the same family, without Pike you would never have a Tiger muskie which is half True Muskie and half Pike. This Pike argument has been going on for over 2 years now.  The Kalispel tribe is now heading the charge since the state doesn't have the money or manpower to remove them. Its a real shame for Pend Oreille county since this fishery brings alot of money to the area. They have a plan to install fish ladder prototypes in the next few years. This whole thing started out with the tribe wanting to reestablish the bull trout population in the river. All we keep hearing is that the Pike are eating all the trout, wrong. I just think there's a better way of keeping the Pike from moving past Boundry Dam and into the Columbia River. I think the Pike have been in that river for years but just don't find it a good habitat to live and breed in like they do in Box Canyon. Long Lake is a perfect example of a lake that has Pike, but they don't reproduce very well in. I think that's why their not populating in Lake Pend Oreille as well, they just don't have the environment for them. The debate goes on LOL....

[TommyH]

It is a blast to hook on to a nice pike!! I never have  got a "big" one but even the smaller ones i got were some great fighting fish, and great eating as well.  Hopefully i can make it over there soon Yes craig is right on the access on the P.O. river, tribal sloughs are private.