SANDPOINT, Idaho — If you’re fishing on Lake Pend Oreille, keep your eye out for tags located in the backs of rainbow trout.
Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) is inviting fishermen to participate in an Angler Science Program to help gather information that will help the department manage the trophy rainbow trout fishery.
IDFG says Lake Pend Oreille has been producing more rainbow trout over 20 pounds than anywhere else on Earth and found that rainbow trout over 30 inches continues to make up greater than 15% of the catch.
The Lake Pend Oreille Angler Science Program is comprised of anglers who help IDFG collect monitoring data for fish in LPO, mainly through completing logbooks and reporting tagged fish.
IDFG is offering fishermen special prizes for participating in the program, including a free custom Lyman lure and sticker. In addition, participants will be entered into a free raffle for the following prizes:
- 2 Yeti Tundra 45 coolers
- Bubba electric filet knife
- Work Sharp electric knife sharpener
- Custom Yeti 20-ounce tumblers
- Custom trucker hats and beanies
How to participate
Firstly, Anglers must record information in a logbook while fishing for rainbow trout on Lake Pend Oreille during the time period that coincides with a local fishing derby.
- Nov. 18 through Nov. 26: Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club is hosting its Thanksgiving Derby
There will be a free raffle associated with each time period for participants who submit their logbooks by Dec. 10.
Rules for the raffle are the same as previous years, but logbook pick-up locations have changed. Logbooks will be included with the purchase of all derby tickets.
Fishermen do not have to participate in a derby. Free logbooks can be picked up at the Panhandle Regional office in Coeur d'Alene.
Fishermen can return a completed logbook to any derby weigh station, bring it to IDFG's Panhandle Regional office or mail it to:
- Attention LPO RBT Logbooks, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 83815.
Next, fishermen must report tagged rainbow trout. To better understand rainbow trout catch rates, harvest rates and survival rates, IDFG is conducting a tagging study in Lake Pend Oreille.
Each tag has a unique number printed on it, as well as a phone number, URL and reward value on some tags. Tags can carry a reward value of $25, $50, $100 or $200.
If you see a tag, please report the tag number and location of where you caught the fish to IDFG.
For full details on the tagging study and how you can participate, visit the IDFG website.
