LPOHS students host pike fishing derby

SANDPOINT — Three students from Lake Pend Oreille High School are on a mission to help tackle the increasing pike population in Lake Pend Oreille.

Kaiden Harper, Kailyn Gingerich, and Solace Peterson all grew up in the area and enjoyed fishing for most of their lives, Harper said. After learning about the increasing number of the non-native fish species from Idaho Fish and Game and hydrology experts, the students discovered that the fish prey on native species and deplete their food supply. 

“It is good that there are [pike] in our lake to keep control of some species, but there are too many at the moment,” Harper said. 

The solution was clear to them — a pike fishing derby.  

The idea originally born out of a science class that the three students attend at LPOHS. The class, taught by Brenda Woodward, studies local water quality issues and proposes potential solutions. Students present their findings at the Youth Water Summit, an event judged by water quality experts and attended by students from 10 northern Idaho schools.

With assistance from Idaho Fish and Game and the Bonner County Sheriff Marine Division, and guidance from the Lake Pend Oreille Fishing Club, the trio was able to navigate the permitting process and get some helpful tips on how to run a fishing derby. Now they just need some lucky anglers, LPOSD officials said. As part of the planning process, the students are collecting prizes for winners. 

The event will take place May 15. Tickets for the derby are for sale at Savory Restaurant in Sandpoint and at Superfly in Kootenai. Call LPOHS at 208-263-6121 with any questions.