Timothy Hicks of Post Falls has established a new Idaho catch-and-release record after landing a northern pike measuring 49.75 inches in Lake Pend Oreille last June. The fish exceeded the previous record by three-quarters of an inch, marking a significant achievement in the state’s freshwater fishing records.
Hicks released the pike rather than keeping it, placing the catch in Idaho’s official catch-and-release category maintained by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The distinction is important: while Hicks holds the length record for pike released back into the water, the state’s certified weight record for pike remains held by Thomas Francis, who caught a 40.76-pound fish in Hayden Lake in 2023.
Lake Pend Oreille’s Track Record for Trophy Fish
Lake Pend Oreille has emerged as a premier fishery for record-setting catches in Idaho. Beyond Hicks’ recent achievement, the lake produced another notable catch-and-release record when Kyle Hatrock landed a 27-inch westslope cutthroat trout there in February 2026. The consistent appearance of trophy-class fish in the lake has made it a destination for anglers pursuing state records.
The lake’s reputation reflects both its natural productivity and active management efforts by Fish and Game biologists working to maintain a healthy ecosystem. The agency has implemented several initiatives aimed at balancing predator and prey species populations in the system.
Fish and Game Incentive Programs Target Predatory Species
Idaho Department of Fish and Game operates an Angler Incentive Program designed to control populations of walleye and lake trout, species that compete with kokanee for resources in Lake Pend Oreille. The program rewards anglers for submitting fish heads and, in the case of tagged walleye, catching specific marked fish.
Anglers who catch one of approximately 60 tagged walleye in the lake receive $1,000. Any angler submitting a walleye head enters a monthly drawing with a $100 prize. Lake trout heads are paid at $15 each.
The lake trout component of the program has operated since 2006, while the walleye portion began in 2019. Since the program’s inception, anglers have earned roughly $1.5 million catching lake trout heads and an additional $125,000 through the walleye program. Post Falls angler lands state’s largest northern pike from Lake Pend Oreille in prior years have also benefited from these incentive structures.
The program is funded through Avista Corporation under the Clark Fork Settlement Agreement, a mechanism that directs resources toward ecosystem management in the Lake Pend Oreille basin.
Forest Service Activity Increases Truck Traffic in North Fork Drainage
Concurrent with recreational fishing activity on Lake Pend Oreille, the U.S. Forest Service reports elevated truck traffic on Forest System Road 209 in the Little North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River drainage. Log trucks hauling timber sales loads are operating Monday through Friday, with most activity occurring in the early morning to early afternoon hours.
Hauling operations are expected to continue through the fall. The Forest Service has indicated that minimum weekly log truck traffic reaches approximately 50 loads. A caution zone designated between mileposts 6 and 10 on Road 209 requires extra vigilance from drivers navigating the area.
Forest Service Road 911 and Road 422 are currently closed due to ongoing timber sales activity. Travelers and recreationalists in the Little North Fork area should plan accordingly and monitor Forest Service announcements for updates on road status and hauling schedules.
What Comes Next
Hicks’ record achievement adds to the growing list of trophy catches from Lake Pend Oreille and may inspire additional anglers to pursue records in the system. Anglers interested in contributing to Fish and Game management goals can participate in the Angler Incentive Program year-round. Information on submitting fish heads and details on tagged fish redemption is available through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Timber hauling on Forest System roads in the North Fork drainage will continue through fall, and road closures remain in effect. Outdoor enthusiasts planning access to the area should verify current conditions before travel.
Conservation Group Secures Public Access to Falls Creek Waterfall in Cabinet Mountains represents ongoing efforts to maintain recreational opportunities across North Idaho’s public lands and water systems.