Pend Oreille Charters

Days are spent on Lake Pend Oreille, which the company notes is the fifth deepest lake in the nation at 1,207 feet with 176 miles of shoreline, and the same fleet works the Clark Fork River and the Pend Oreille River. Boats leave from the Hope Marina on the north shore, beside The Floating Restaurant and about nineteen miles from Sandpoint along a lakeside highway where moose, deer, Canada geese and nesting bald eagles are commonly seen on the drive in. The headline fishery is trolling for trophy-class Gerrard rainbow trout, and the operator points to an Idaho state record of 36.5 inches taken aboard; jigging for lake trout and casting for bass and pike fill out the multi-species days. Vessels are matched to the job, with two highly customised trolling boats rigged to stay weather-ready and a third set up with the room and gear for family outings. All tackle and equipment is supplied, every booking is private to a single group of up to six passengers with no mixed parties, and reservations are advised through the busy summer and derby stretch.