Lake · Kootenai, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene Lake at Coeur d'Alene
Current Lake Rating
Point-in-time lake rating — separate from the trip recommendation below.
Fair
This condition rating is estimated because current on-water monitoring is not available.
Estimated Conditions
Estimated from available current readings, weather, seasonal patterns, destination characteristics, and historical conditions. Some important on-water measurements may be unavailable.
Rating confidence: Low
Should I Go?
Consider
Fishing guidance for this destination based on available lake conditions, weather, and seasonal context. It is not a boating, swimming, ice, or access-safety rating.
Recommendation confidence: Low
Why
- Current water-level and water-temperature observations are not available.
- StrikeTracks is showing a provisional Estimated Conditions rating from accepted secondary evidence.
- Available atmospheric evidence is favorable for provisional Estimated fishing suitability; the public rating is capped by the accepted Estimated evidence path and confidence policy.
Current Readings
- Gage height
- 27.32 ft
- Change over 24 hours
- +0.02 ft
- Trend
- Rising
- Last updated
- 39 min ago
Source: USGS · COEUR D ALENE LAKE AT COEUR D ALENE ID · 12415500 · Gage height
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Weather Near Lake
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
48°F
Feels like
44°F
Wind
4 mph NW
Wind gust
8 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:15 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this lake
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.02 in
Last 48 hours
0.13 in
Little recent rainfall near this lake.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Clear
Temp 47°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 45°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 60°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 2 PM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 6 PM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 10 PM
Overcast
Temp 60°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 73°F / Low 45°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 11 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 78°F / Low 51°F
Chance 53%
Precip 0.01 in
Max gust 20 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 75°F / Low 52°F
Chance 68%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 16 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 77°F / Low 48°F
Chance 14%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 6 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this lake's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence lake level and access, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, and reservoir operations where applicable.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Gage Height History
Loading historical gage height…
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Coeur d'Alene Lake.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Coeur d'Alene Lake is a major north Idaho stillwater. StrikeTracks keeps this existing public ID on PATH B static fishery value. USGS 12415500 is gage height only — not live lake temperature — so this is not a Monitoring-Backed thermal destination. IDFG Panhandle special rules: trout limit 6 with no harvest of cutthroat; Lake Creek and tributaries closed. Landlocked Chinook, bass, northern pike, and kokanee are part of the managed fishery; kokanee and cutthroat are not selector IDs where missing. Hatch Match publishes general fly suggestions only. Confirm current IDFG rules.
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
IDFG Panhandle Coeur d'Alene Lake trout limit with no cutthroat harvest. Mixed stillwater; coldwater+warmwater focus stays generic-fishing so elevation-only L-B is not remapped through coldwater_profile. Native cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii, including Yellowstone and westslope forms where IDFG manages them) are not a StrikeTracks species-selector ID. They are described in overview and regulation caution only. Kokanee are an IDFG-managed salmonid in some Idaho stillwaters and are not a StrikeTracks species-selector ID. Bull trout are IDFG catch-and-release statewide and are not a StrikeTracks species-selector ID.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
IDFG Panhandle Coeur d'Alene Lake game fish. USGS 12415500 is gage height only, not lake temperature.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
IDFG Panhandle lists landlocked Chinook among regional salmonids. Confirm current lake-specific notices.
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
IDFG Panhandle notes northern pike as illegally established in the region and encourages harvest where listed. Confirm current rules.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Large natural lake at Coeur d'Alene including connected Chatcolet / Benewah waters under the IDFG lake listing. Elevation-only USGS is not a thermal substitute.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public lake fishing and launches are documented by IDFG Fishing Planner and city / park launches around Coeur d'Alene. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point, not a verified launch pin. Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation waters require tribal contact.
Stocking information
IDFG Panhandle Region manages trout, bass, pike, and landlocked Chinook. Confirm any current official stocking separately. Do not invent a calendar.
Official sources
IDFG Panhandle 2025-2027: Coeur d'Alene Lake (includes Benewah and Chatcolet lakes, Chain Lakes, and tributaries) — trout limit 6, no harvest of cutthroat; Lake Creek and tributaries closed to fishing. Bull trout catch-and-release. Confirm current rules. Elevation USGS is not lake temperature.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerConservative overlap streamer family. Not an insect Hatch claim.
- Parachute-style dryOne general surface family appropriate to mixed fisheries — not a Hatch report.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphOne general subsurface family. Not destination entomology.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Kootenai, Idaho
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Kootenai
Management Category
Mixed stillwater
Regulation Scope
Coeur d'Alene Lake at Coeur d'Alene
Regulation Summary
Coeur d'Alene Lake: IDFG Panhandle Coeur d'Alene Lake special rules. Confirm current 2025-2027 Fishing Seasons & Rules.
Target Species
smallmouth-bass, northern-pike, chinook-salmon, rainbow-trout
Public Access
Public
Description
Coeur d'Alene Lake at USGS 12415500. Current continuous values are gage height (00065) only. That is not same-lake water temperature and is not a Monitoring-Backed lake-temperature destination. This existing public ID stays on PATH B static fishery value. Ordinary warmwater Lake Estimated is not claimed from elevation. Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point.
