Bounty paying off at Lake PDO

It’s getting a little harder to collect, but Idaho is still paying $15 a fish for anglers who catch and keep rainbows or lake trout from Lake Pend Oreille.

“We saw some encouraging results in the kokanee numbers last year, so we’re going to keep the pressure on the rainbows and lake trout,” said Jim Fredericks, Idaho Fish and Game Department regional fisheries manager.

While anglers are paid per fish, commercial netters also are paid to catch lake trout in spring and fall.

“It’s a little like burning the village to save it, but we need to keep the pedal down on the trout for a few more years,” he said. “Our goal is to get the kokanee healthy so ultimately we can restore the trophy rainbow fishery.”