Lake Pend Oreille Opens For Rainbows

Wed., Feb. 2, 2000

Predatory fish, including prized trophy rainbows, will be sacrificed in order to prevent a total collapse of the Lake Pend Oreille kokanee fishery, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission ruled on Friday.

In an emergency action, the commission has closed Lake Pend Oreille to fishing for kokanee and opened it to fishing for rainbows. The rainbow fishing season normally wouldn’t open until April.

The commission set the daily rainbow limit at six trout of any size. This is a controversial concept to the lake’s anglers who have been preaching the catch-and-release ethic to conserve trophy rainbows.

Idaho Fish and Game Department biologists say the rainbow population will be the next to collapse if they don’t do something drastic to curtail the decline of kokanee, the prime prey for trophy rainbows.

Surveys found the lake’s kokanee at record low numbers.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Lake Pend Oreille Opens For Rainbows

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

A Grip on Sports: One nice thing about the Pac-12's rebuild? The conference now has some schedule certainty long before the first kickoff

Central Valley's Joseph Hilton battling for top spot in triple jump entering state meet

Two Idaho football games to air on ESPN