Idaho Department of Fish and Game is offering cash rewards to anglers who catch and remove non-native fish species from Lake Pend Oreille, part of a two-decade effort to restore the lake’s native ecosystem and boost kokanee populations.
The Angler Incentive Program provides monetary rewards for walleye and lake trout harvested from the 148,000-acre lake in Bonner County. Lake trout heads earn anglers $15 each, while specially tagged walleye are worth $1,000 to the angler who catches them. The department typically maintains about 60 tagged walleye in the lake at any given time, meaning up to $60,000 is available annually through the walleye tagging component alone.
Anglers who catch untagged walleye can submit the head to enter a monthly drawing for prizes. Ten winners each month receive $100, offering another pathway for fishermen to earn rewards while supporting the lake’s ecological restoration.
Two-Decade Campaign Against Invasive Species
The lake trout bounty has operated since 2006, generating roughly $1.5 million in angler earnings over that 20-year span. The walleye incentive was added in 2019, accumulating $125,000 in payouts to anglers in the seven years since its inception. Last year alone, anglers earned $33,000 from lake trout and $23,000 from the walleye program.
Both species are non-native to Lake Pend Oreille and compete with native fish populations for food and habitat. Rob Ryan, a mitigation staff biologist with Idaho Fish and Game, explained that the agency’s objective is straightforward: “The goal we have put out there is the collapse of the lake trout population.”
Restoring Native Fish Populations
The removal campaigns directly support recovery of kokanee salmon, a native species that has declined as invasive species have proliferated. Ryan noted that kokanee serve dual ecological purposes in the lake ecosystem. “Kokanee are really important to Lake Pend Oreille in that they provide fishing opportunity, but they are also food for a lot of different fish,” he said.
Bull trout, another native species found in the lake and its tributaries, received federal protection under the Endangered Species Act due to population declines. The invasive walleye and lake trout directly threaten bull trout recovery by competing for similar prey and habitat.
The incentive program reflects Idaho Fish and Game’s philosophy of enlisting public participation in resource management. By offering financial incentives, the agency leverages angler effort to address an ecological problem while creating economic opportunity for the fishing community.
For anglers interested in participating, tagged walleye are clearly marked and instructions for submitting fish heads for bounties are available through the department’s regional office in Sandpoint. More information about the Angler Incentive Program and Lake Pend Oreille fishing can be obtained through Idaho Fish and Game’s official channels.
The record-breaking pike catches from Lake Pend Oreille demonstrate the lake’s continued appeal to serious anglers pursuing trophy fish, even as the department works to manage invasive species populations.