Incentive Program Rewards Removal of Walleye and Lake Trout
Idaho Fish and Game is offering anglers a direct financial incentive to catch and remove walleye and lake trout from Lake Pend Oreille, part of a long-running effort to protect the lake’s trophy rainbow trout fishery by controlling predatory species.
The Angler Incentive Program pays anglers and spearfishers for turning in fish heads—a straightforward method that provides immediate rewards while keeping the catch’s edible portion. The structure creates multiple earning opportunities, with tagged fish commanding premium payouts and untagged catches entering monthly drawings.
Anglers who catch one of approximately 60 walleye equipped with tracking tags and submit the head receive $1,000 per fish. Those catching untagged walleye can enter their heads into a monthly drawing offering ten $100 prizes. Lake trout heads also qualify for the monthly drawings, providing another avenue for anglers to earn while helping manage the lake’s ecosystem.
Two Decades of Predator Control
The program began in 2006 targeting lake trout, which compete with and prey upon kokanee salmon—the forage fish that sustains Lake Pend Oreille’s world-class rainbow trout population. When walleye populations began expanding in the lake, Idaho Fish and Game expanded the program to include them in 2019, recognizing that both species threaten kokanee availability for the larger trout.
Financial results demonstrate the program’s scale and angler participation. Lake trout anglers have earned approximately $1.5 million in rewards since the program’s 2006 inception. Walleye anglers have collected roughly $125,000 since the 2019 expansion, indicating growing participation as the walleye incentive became known among the fishing community.
The ecological logic underlying the program is straightforward: walleye and lake trout are aggressive predators that reduce kokanee populations. Kokanee, in turn, are the primary food source for Lake Pend Oreille’s renowned trophy rainbow trout. By financially incentivizing the removal of these predators, Idaho Fish and Game aims to maintain kokanee abundance and preserve the fishery that has made the lake a destination for anglers across the region.
Opportunity for Local Anglers
For Bonner County anglers, the program represents a tangible way to contribute to lake management while generating income. Those fishing Lake Pend Oreille regularly—whether targeting specific species or fishing opportunistically—can now view walleye and lake trout catches as potential revenue rather than bycatch to be released.
The monthly drawing structure for untagged fish also ensures that anglers without the luck of finding a tagged walleye still have a chance to earn. Ten $100 prizes distributed monthly create consistent opportunities throughout the year.
Details on submitting fish heads and claiming rewards are available through Idaho Fish and Game. Anglers should verify current program rules and submission locations before heading to the lake, as procedures may vary by location or season.
Related coverage: Post Falls Angler Sets Idaho Catch-and-Release Pike Record on Lake Pend Oreille