Priest Lake

The Lake

Priest Lake is a scenic natural lake in Northern Idaho. A famous Mackinaw or Lake Trout fishery, Priest Lake holds the Idaho Mackinaw record, over 57 lbs.

The lake is 24 miles long and about 2 miles wide. Water surface area is about 24,000 acres. It is deeper than 300' in some spots. It is actually two lakes connected by a channel. The main body is 19 miles long and the Upper Priest Lake is 3 1/2 miles long. The lake sits at 2438 feet elevation. Summer water temps are around 70 degrees. There is camping all around the lake. Fishing is open year round. Upper Priest lake is catch and release.

Priest Lake is located off of Hwy 57 near the town of Nordman, in Bonner County.

The Fish

Mackinaw - Lake Trout.

Many 3 to 10 lb. Lakers are harvested as well as the big bruisers that occasionally show up. There are fish in the 20 to 40 lb. range. Macks prey on other fish in the lake like Trout and Kokanee. They also eat lots of Mysis shrimp that were introduced into Priest Lake in the 1960's to feed the Kokanee.

The size of the average Lake Trout has declined in recent years due to the abundance of food and the increase in numbers of these fish. Some say there are now too many Mackinaw in the Lake, and need to be thinned out. The large numbers have increased the competition for food. The Lake Trout are eating machines and have cleared almost all other species of fish from the lake. The Fish and Game stocked lots of Kokanee to feed the Lakers in past years, but have stopped this practice. The limits for Lakers has been increased to six trout of any size.

In the spring bank fishermen are successful as the trout roam the shoreline looking for dinner. Most of the fishing for Macks is done with a boat trolling 60 to 150 feet down in the cooler water. Mackinaw are a structure oriented fish, so fish near the bottom and around variations in the lake floor. Keep that lure within six feet of the bottom for the best luck. Well equipped boats with depth finders and downriggers are helpful for success. Jigging can be good if you can find a school of fish.

5 inch Hoochie Lure

Herring Dodger

Flashers and Dodgers trailing a hoochie is a popular rig for trolling. Large lures like Rapalas are also used. Some fishermen put some squawfish or other meat on the lures.

A popular rig is a Herring dodger with a large streamer fly back about 18 inches.

Cutthroat Trout

The Westslope Cutthroats are native to Priest Lake but have been thinned out by the voracious Lakers. There is still catch and release fishing for the native Cutthroats in the Upper Priest Lake portion. On the Upper section no bait is allowed, and single barbless hooks are required.

Bull Trout

Bulls Trout are native to Priest Lake. They are protected and it is catch and release only.

Kokanee

Kokanee were introduced into the lake and were annually planted heavily in the past. The Kokanee population has not caught on, possibly because of the dime sized Mysis Shrimp that were introduced to feed the Kokanee. It has been found that the Shrimp feed on the Phytoplankton and Zooplankton that Kokanee fry feed on. Also Mysis hide in the deep water during the day and come up to the surface at night. Kokanee do the opposite so do not see the Shrimp during their daily movements. Also, the Macks feed heavily on Kokanee.

Mysis Shrimp

Kokanee fishing is closed now on Priest Lake but the fish still remain in the water. The Fish and Game is working on a plan to reduce the population of Lake Trout and increase Kokanee numbers.

If you have fished here lately or have a fishing tip please send in a report. Just click below. The folks at Idaho Lake Fishing.com, and fishermen everywhere appreciate it!

2/25/05 Trolling for Lake Trout should be good trolling near the bottom. IDFG.

July 22, 2005 Name: Bryan Lake: Priest Lake Air Temp: 85 Water Temp: 70 Water Clarity and Color: Crystal Clear Fishing Report: I am 13 years old and I was at Priest lake. We went across the lake for firewood, we cut down the tree and were on our way back. I threw my line in the water for fun. the next min. later there was a seven pound Mackinaw on the end of my line. I will never forget reeling in the fish. Thank you for allowing me to tell you about my experience. Editors note: Thanks for telling us your fishing story Bryan. Get out there and try it again! Let us know how you do. Fishguy

June 21

2006

Name: Brian Date: every weekend Fishing for Mackinaw Fishing Report: We use one ounce jigheads with a curly-tail grub and tip it with cut bait. Hit the bottom and jig up and down. We usually can catch 20 fish per hour. The smaller and more aggressive fish seem to bite the jig. Mornings and evenings are the best times but I favor the morning until around 11:00am. I have caught fish in up to 280'. Use glow in the dark jigs and grubs. Ten pound braided line is a must along with a seven foot spinning rod. Watch the line closely as you jig up and down as the fish come up off the bottom and grab the jig as it starts to fall. When you see your line sinking and suddenly stop sinking, that means a fish has just grabbed it up off the bottom. Your line will "pile up". Reel in the slack and set the hook as hard as you can. Reel up slowly or else the fish will bloat. Fish off points in about 100-200 feet of water. With a good sonor unit you can even see your jig sink down to the bottom on your graph. You will catch fish if you don't even see them on your graph. The fishing is great all year. Happy fishing.