Priest Lake is a reservoir in Idaho, near Bonner County.
Stocking records show that the following fish or strains were stocked here. A historical stocking does not by itself prove that a self-sustaining population remains today.
Priest Lake is a reservoir in Bonner County, Idaho.
The recorded size of Priest Lake is missing; fish one short bank carefully before deciding whether a wider search makes sense.
Priest Lake is a long, clear mountain lake where abundant lake trout now drive much of the fishing. Cutthroat, smallmouth bass, and a smaller kokanee population add other choices.
Jig or troll for lake trout near deep structure, cast small spoons for cutthroat, and use tubes on rocky shoreline for smallmouth.
Lake trout commonly run 16 to 22 inches because they now feed heavily on mysis shrimp instead of abundant kokanee. The Thorofare leads to Upper Priest, but the two lakes have different management goals.
After a bite on Priest Lake, write down whether the fish used current, rock, weeds, wood, open water, or a creek edge because that short note helps separate lake trout, westslope cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass without relying on a broad report from another end of the water.
Fish lake trout, westslope cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass on separate passes at Priest Lake when they use different depths and cover, changing lure depth or speed once before leaving the exact feature that produced there.
Before making a long move on Priest Lake, compare the best nearby feature at two depths so the result shows whether lake trout are absent or the lure is simply moving above or below them.
Fish listed for Priest Lake include Lake Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Perch.
On a cold winter outing near the mouth of a pocket near firm bottom, keep a small jig tipped with a worm or minnow close to bottom on a shelf for yellow perch.
On a steady fall day near scattered wood in clear water, drag a tube or Ned rig across rock and the hard edge of a point for smallmouth bass.
On a low-light period near a channel bend before changing depth, make one shallow pass and one deeper pass on the same shoreline; that shows whether fish are tight to cover or using the first break.
While using a simple two-depth check near a channel bend close to shade, spring fishing starts with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace.
On an overcast morning near the downwind side before changing depth, a light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control.
During the start of a weather change near a shallow shelf after a cold night, record the wind, water color, lure depth that worked, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.
During the first hour near a clean gravel patch with a moving bait, keep the first hour simple: use one moving bait to find active fish, slow down with a jig or natural bait on the best edge, and repeat the same setup when two bites come from matching depth and bottom during that part of the trip.
The main difference is simple: Priest Lake is a long, clear mountain lake where abundant lake trout now drive much of the fishing.
Start with this: Jig or troll for lake trout near deep structure, cast small spoons for cutthroat, and use tubes on rocky shoreline for smallmouth.
Pay attention to this: Lake trout commonly run 16 to 22 inches because they now feed heavily on mysis shrimp instead of abundant kokanee.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.