I HAVE A NEW TITLE FOR A GEORGE WINSTON SOLO ~ " Winter into Summer"
. pc
~ 7 day detailed weather forecast click HERE . See you at the Golf Course.
Contact me if you have ~available for rent~ Cabin/House at Priest Lake and would like to post it here.
Priest Lake Annual Free Fishing Derby INFO HERE
HEALTH FAIR COMES TO PRIEST LAKE May 19th
IMMACULATE '91 SEARAY RUNABOUT OFFERED FOR SALE !!
Dear Pecky,
Bette Ballbach just brought me the May 3 Handle Extra. You and Kathleen
Lamanna did a very nice story for Dave Bryant, all of it true! Her family
always did their boat and gas business at Granite Creek and we liked each
other very much. When my wife, Kathleen, became ill, Kathleen Lamanna
helped us by taking Kathy for radiation therapy and in any other way we
needed help. She is a special lady. and we have not forgotten her kindness!
Thank you for doing such a nice job! Love, Dad
Source Avista - Priest Lake water level is presently 9" below summer level
Expected to rise in the following days.
Cavanaugh Bay's "Afternoon Delight"
click on image
© pecky cox foto
HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK
321 PM PDT WED MAY 14 2008
...SIGNIFICANT RISES ON AREA RIVERS ARE POSSIBLE STARTING THIS WEEKEND...
UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH ABOVE NORMAL MOUNTAIN
SNOWPACK ARE FORECAST TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT RISES ON MANY RIVERS
THROUGHOUT THE INLAND NORTHWEST. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RISES ARE EXPECTED TO
OCCUR IN NORTH IDAHO....ESPECIALLY ON THE COEUR D`ALENE...ST
JOE...AND MOYIE RIVERS. SIGNIFICANT RISES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ON
RIVERS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE CASCADES.
THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY IN BOTH THE MAGNITUDE AND THE
DURATION OF THE WARM WEATHER EPISODE. AS A RESULT...RIVER
FORECASTS WILL LIKELY BE CHANGED SOME THE NEXT FEW DAYS BASED ON THE
LATEST DATA AND WEATHER TRENDS. FLOOD WATCHES OR WARNINGS WILL
LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF THE AREA BY FRIDAY.
Any reports on water rise on the creek or river near you at Priest Lake - please leave it under comments.
Kalispell Creek
Picture date - May 15th
- Teri Hill
Sent to me by one of our readers. (the pictrue not the morels)
Picked at Priest Lake, and nope, he did not give me cordenades to picking site. (of course). pc
Click on image for better taste.
Ahhh… I grew up spending a week every summer at Priest Lake
Recipe deadline is tomorrow at midnight. Happy Cooking and Morel hunting!
- Emily Adamson
Now open, Leonard Paul's Lakeside Deli
Leonard's Sugar Shack ~ I call it. p.c.
Bishop's Marina today.
Click on images for large format photos taken on May 8.
© pecky cox fotos
©pecky cox fotos
Due to heavy snowfall this winter and cooler than normal spring temperatures, it is anticipated that many recreation sites and trails will not be accessible by Memorial Day weekend. People are encouraged to contact the Ranger District Offices ahead of their visits throughout the spring and early summer to find out the latest information on opening dates
More pictures CLICK HERE
Rain, wind, waves and puddles did not deter a full dining room at Elkins Resort for their Mother's Day Breakfast - Buffet. A spread of prime rib, smoked salmon and shrimp was just a start. Made-to-order omlettes led the way unless you preferred quiche, potatos, sausage & bacon. 
The Kautzmann family, especially enjoyed the desserts centered around a fountain of gushing chocolate and strawberries. There was everything you wanted on the table except a bowl of Lipitor tablets.
GO TO The Lake Paparazzi FOR OTHER PICTURES
Fred Cox
Golf Correspondent
The course opened Friday with the front-9 95% dry for play and the golf course professional staff hard at work readying for the 2008 season. Our new Head Pro is Will Styler ( on the left) and Assistant Pro Jeff Chapman will be the coordinators and support staff for all of the golfing activities, professional lessons and tournament functions.
Will comes to us from the Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club where he was Asst. Pro for the last 6 years. He has recently received his PGA Professional designation as a Class A Member and is currently finishing work becoming a PGA Certified Professional Instructor.
Will grew up in the SeaTac area and graduated from the San Diego Golf Academy in 2001. He and his wife Megan moved to Priest River in January.
Assist. Pro Jeff Chapman knows Priest Lake well. He and his family vacationed for 14 years at Hill's Resort. Jeff comes to us from a winter stint at the Whitefish Mountain Resort having lived in Whitefish MT. for 20 years. Jeff too is a graduate of the San Diego Golf Academy , has a AA Golf Facility Management Degree and is enrolled in the PGA Professional Business Program.
He was General Manager, Head Golf Professional, and golf course superintendent at Frontier Roadhouse and Golf Club in Kalispell, MT. Jeff is living here at Priest Lake and reports some jealousy from his family for being able to work in their favorite vacation spot. I asked Jeff for the name of his wife and he said he did not know because he has not yet found her.
Continue reading "MEET THE NEW PROS AT PRIEST LAKE GOLF COURSE" »
West Priest Lake Fire District
Click on images for a larger view
Photos - C. Hill
By Justin Hayes, Program Director
IDAHO CONSERVATION LEAGUE
You know the type – think “energizer bunny.”
Walking past the Legislature’s office this afternoon I bumped into North Idaho’s Representative Eric Anderson (Priest Lake-R). The Legislature has adjourned for the year – so the place is pretty empty, but there was Anderson.
During the session Anderson wrote and successfully championed the Idaho Invasive Species Act of 2008 to create a framework for addressing the increasing threat of invasive species to our land and waterways.
Stopping the spread of noxious aquatic weeds like milfoil, quagga mussels and other invasive species isn’t sexy – but it’s critical. These invasive pests out compete beneficial native plants and animals, smother lakes and choke off water flow through pipes.
Thanks to Anderson’s leadership on this issue during the 2008 Legislature, Idaho is on the path to protect the health of our lakes and recreational opportunities for all Idahoans.
After a success like that, surely Anderson would take a break, some sort of needed vacation, right? Not so much. Anderson did head down to New Zealand for a little R and R. But while he was there he was working – he somehow found the time to meet with members of New Zealand’s House of Representatives and discuss invasive species!
The Priest Lake Kaniksu Lions will be holding their 5th Annual Health Fair Day, May 19th and 20th 2008, at St. Blanches Catholic Church, 27832 Hwy. 57 (located across from the Priest Lake Golf Course)
The Lions Health Screening Unit will be providing FREE Health Screenings for:
• BLOOD PRESSURE
• GLAUCOMA
• DIABETES
• SIGHT
• HEARING
Your local Priest Lake Kaniksu Lions Club brings the Lions Health Screening Unit to you free of charge.
Sacred Health Women’s Health Center Coach will provide Mammography and Osteoporosis screenings
Panhandle Public Health District will be providing Manual Breast Exams along with Female Exams.
The Inland Northwest Blood Mobile will be there for anyone wishing to donate the nectar of life. (Monday May 19th only)
For information and appointment scheduling please call Cheryl Ekler of the Priest Lake Kaniksu Lions at (208) 443-7039
"Slightly less than 6 acres for slightly less than 6 million."
Property for Sale at Priest Lake
Pecky Cox Foto
Click on image for larger view
Nearly 400 feet of lake frontage plus a one of a kind private inlet, approximately 275’ x60’. Location is just one key asset of this property. We are on the west side of the lake for easy access from Hiway 57. With a spectacular view of our most famous Chimney Rock in the Selkirk Mountain Range.
Great sunrises with warm mornings and cool evenings in the summer. We are in the middle of the main lake referred to as The Narrows. This is location gives easy access to the entire lake.
The Resort is sheltered from the occasional storms and prevailing wind from the south which makes our area one of the most protected for boats and docks.
We have a sandy beach that gently recedes to about 20’deep at 100’ out, which is perfect for both boats and swimming. The property is basically level from the front to the back.
A great piece of property at Priest Lake to either develop or use as a private retreat. Great potential!
Please- serious buyers only. Contact Mike Williams 208-687-6965 or e-mail KANIKSU for detailed information.
More pictures of Kaniksu Resort CLICK HERE
Posted by: Jim Luby
The U. S. Fish Commission was established in 1871. By 1881 the Commission was known as the U.S. Fish and Fisheries Commission. In 1903 the name was changed to Bureau of Fisheries. In 1911, George Kemmerer and J.F. Bovard were sent by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries to study Priest Lake to ascertain its suitability for mackinaw. The Spokane Chamber of Commerce, state and county game wardens, businessmen, and volunteers contributed time and boats to the effort. In 1921, the study authors followed up with Spokane and Idaho residents and were informed that Deer, Loon, and Badger Lakes had plentiful mackinaw but no one had heard of any catches in Pend Oreille, Coeur d'Alene, or Priest Lakes.
In the period between 1890 and 1912, it was common for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries to ship any species of fish to anyone who requested them, so mackinaw could have been introduced before the 1911 study or shortly thereafter. It was 1924 when 100,000 Mackinaw eggs were shipped to the Sandpoint hatchery from Lake Superior.
Until 1952, few if any, Mackinaw were caught at Priest Lake. A Dolly Varden (Bull Trout)fishing derby was held in the spring that year and one angler incidentally caught a large Mac. After no previous history of a Mac fishery at Priest Lake, 334 were caught that year for a total of 8,508 lbs - a 25 lb per fish average weight. In 1956 2,100 Macs were caught at the lake.
The large size of the Macs was attributed to the presence of Kokanee which had been introduced in 1942, 43, and 44. The Kokanee introduction is also believed to have caused the demise of the indigenous Rocky Mountain Whitefish but Kokanee were a more desirable fish for sportsmen and seemed to fill a previously unfilled niche. Although the Cutthroat fishery had been on the decline since the 40's, "the bite was on" for Kokanee.
Unfortunately,in 1965, 2 years after the Idaho Fish and Game pronounced the Kokanee and Mackinaw populations in excellent condition, Mysis shrimp were planted in the lake and the demise of the Kokanee soon followed.
Since 1990 or so, the IDF&G has promoted the theory that lake draw down in the fall desiccates Kokanee egg beds and that is the real cause of the decline of the Kokanee fishery. However, in his 1956 landmark study of Priest Lake, Ted Bjorn downplays the effect of lake draw down. In fact, Kokanee will expand beyond the limits of food and space in their habitat. The individual fish get smaller and smaller as opposed to cannibalizing their own population or reducing fecundity. Thus, the formerly healthy populations of Kokanee at Priest Lake benefited from lake draw down since it limited the numbers of fish, leaving more food and space in the lake for the survivors. With the presence of Mysis in the lake, changing the lake draw down regime in the fall to benefit Kokanee won't change the ability of Mysis to out-compete Kokanee for food. The only chance Kokanee have is if the Mac population has grown enough to be a significant predator to Mysis, thereby leaving more food available for Kokanee. However, if a larger population of Macs limits Mysis to the benefit of Kokanee food supply, the same Macs will be predators to the Kokanee. I doubt fishermen will ever see Kokanee in the creel again at Priest Lake. My hope is enough Kokanee will populate the lake to keep Macs from feeding as much on Cutthroat and Dollies.
SECOND OF TWO PARTS
Herb Huseland
www.bayviews.blogspot.com
Not that long ago in Bayview, the bars used to be full of fishermen, quaffing a beer while discussing the day's catch.
This wasn't a scene from 50 years ago, only six.
Today, rows of boat slips stand empty, waiting in vain for the kokanee fishing fleet to once more crowd Lake Pend Oreille. Chip Corsi, spokesman for Idaho Fish and Game, spoke to the economic losses: "Since the loss of the popular kokanee fishery, I would say that around $35 million would have been the economic value of the fishery," he said.
The source of the problem was in 1925, when the U.S. Fish Commission planted lake trout, a Midwestern native. The introduction was followed by planting the Gerrard strain of rainbow trout in about 1941 and mysis shrimp in the '60s.
The thinking back then was that the kokanee would feed on the shrimp, attaining record numbers and larger sizes. They did that, but not from eating shrimp.
Kokanee, a landlocked sockeye salmon, was and is the primary food fish for the larger trout and lake trout. What the shrimp did do though, is provide an enormous source of food for juvenile lake trout, or as they are know as, mackinaw. Macs will top 40 pounds or more at maturity, which can be up to 27 years old or more. With the advent of the mysis, the lake trout populations exploded, causing the predation of kokanee past their ability to reproduce in numbers large enough to survive. The lakers began to dominate the food chain to the point that kokanee are almost extinct.
Attempts have been made by the Bonneville Power Administration, the Corps of Engineers and Avista to bring back this vital source of income to the businesses around the lake. Idaho Fish and Game estimates that $19 million is the current value of the Lake Pend Oreille fishery.
Further attempts to reverse the declining kokanee population problem were addressed by Jim MacDonald in 1971. MacDonald, a former state senator, believing that a commercial fishery was counterproductive, went to Boise with the request that the commercial season be discontinued.
Fish and Game sent a biologist to examine MacDonald's claim that the harvest was larger than could be replaced by future spawning. He recommended banning the commercial taking of kokanee. Prior to that, individuals could take 100 fish per day, and commercial fishermen could take an additional 200 fish per day.
The measure passed review and became regulation, but it wasn't enough.
Currently, other measures are in force, including year-round open season on trout and mackinaw. Tributaries, such as the Clark Fork and Pack Rivers, are open to fishing for the larger species during the spawning cycle, an event unheard of in the past. Fish and Game believes that the only way the lake can come back into balance is to kill off most or all of the rainbow trout and most of the mackinaw, followed by a massive infusion of kokanee from other sources.
In addition, a bounty was set for $15 for the heads of either rainbow trout over 16 inches, or for mackinaw of any length. "Correcting the mistakes of the past isn't that easy," Corsi said. "Many fishermen oppose those methods such as opening a commercial lake trout and whitefish season, and developing a market for the fresh fish. The department is, very sensitive to the mistakes made in the past, and doesn't intend to repeat them, if at all possible."
Bayview Creek, which apparently inconvenienced so many people, was rerouted many times. It was finally killed by Boileau's Marina in 1997 when it was diverted, piped underground with its outlet way above the winter level. That stopped any fish from swimming up to spawn. Studies are under way to visit the possibility of returning this stream to productivity.
Much has been said about what happened, when it happened, and why. Fish and Game authorities are now faced with the questions: Are we "too little, too late?"
Many experts, including former Fish and Game commissioner Dick Hansen, think it might be. "Unless we can kill off 80 percent of the mackinaw in the lake, (chances of recovery) is very little. There are simply too many predators eating too few kokanee." The total spawn in the fall of 2007 was a statistical zero. Another year such as that can't be survived.
"Trying to restore the kokanee is a noble cause, but useless," Hansen said. Currently, the Fish and Game has planted 20,000 egg sac stage kokanee at the scene of the Harborview mitigation last fall. An additional 6 million fry will be planted, mostly at Sullivan Springs in Granite Creek. Recent discoveries found some spawn at MacDonald's Resort, previously thought to have gone extinct. But they spawned in deeper water, apparently adapting to the rise and fall of the lake.
When asked about recovery efforts, Corsi said, "We are trying by obtaining eggs from other sources to bring them back. But eggs are scarce." But he added that "this department is not going down without a fight, and regardless of the dismal odds, we believe that we can bring the lake back, and more importantly, within our lifetime."
cllick on image for view
Thank you David Summers for this great photo of Bishops Marina.
Comments on The Marina HERE.
Priest Lake Search & Rescue, Inc. (PLSAR) is pleased to announce that they will be presenting the 2008 Huckleberry Festival on Saturday, August 2nd, 2008. The Huckleberry Festival will become PLSAR's primary annual fundraising event.
The 2008 Festival, an entertaining family event, will feature the ambiance of the Priest Lake Golf Course, with a quality arts and crafts fair, food booths, commercial booths, and excellent bluegrass music from 10 AM to 5 PM. There will also be a golf tournament followed by a BBQ dinner for the golfers and their spouses. (Only 200 dinner tickets are available.) Bring a chair or picnic blanket to enjoy the day's finale for a "Blues on the Green" concert open to all after 6 PM. It will be a jam packed, fun filled family day sure to become an annual Priest Lake tradition. You are invited to help support Priest Lake Search and Rescue and the 2008 Huckleberry Festival. For information on sponsorships or booths, please contact PLSAR, Box 78, Coolin, ID 83821 or Mike Nielsen at 443-6603.
PLSAR is a non-profit organization with IRS 501 (c)(3) status under IRS Code 170, Organized for charitable purposes. PLSAR is not supported by tax dollars and depends solely on donations and grants for support to complete its missions.
“ Those Dock Days of Summer”
People are sometimes surprised when they learn that I work on old docks around Priest Lake.
I don’t really know what to say at times like this…I suppose it’s sort of like when you saw your teacher from grade school in a store or something. You’d think to yourself, what is she or he doing here…how come they aren’t at the school? Although with me I suppose it’s how come he’s not in the bar waiting for the next night to play. Anyway…I kind of like working on old docks. I mean, how many other jobs do you get to commute back and forth to in a boat. How else can you come across cool old weathered boards that no one wants…boards that can be used to side a shed or garage that will serve to make the building look really old and funky like it’s been there for 80 years as soon as it’s completed.
How many other outside jobs at the lake are there where you will hardly ever see a mosquito or that lets you be in and out of the water all day. Yup…it’s a dock guy’s life for me. I’ve even flirted with the idea of naming my band “The Dock Boys.” After all…some of the dudes that I’ve played with have helped me on a few from time to time. Oh it’s not all peaches and cream. I remember working on one in June when the water was pretty cold…those early days before I went big time and actually got a wet suit upper to wear. I had started spiking some things into place under water with a small sledge hammer by this time…sort of a revolutionary technique that replaced doing most of it from above with much reaching down, twisting and cussing.
I lost track of time…that is…how long I had been in the water. Suddenly it dawned on me how light headed I was becoming. Holding my breath over and over didn’t help either. I was working alone…(something else I’ve pretty much quit doing these days)…I drug myself up onto the dock…wrapped myself in some black plastic I had in my boat and laid in the sun in the fetal position.
After drifting off to sleep for a bit I came to and decided I had come pretty close to seeing God. Or the time while hammering on a spike beneath the water and between a couple logs, the sledge glanced off and just missed hitting me square in the head. If I had been knocked out…I’d probably still be there. But all and all…it’s pretty cool. It’s a great way to meet and visit with old guys.
They especially seem to come and hang around when I’m in the process of getting a lot of flotation under a dock to bring it back up out of the water like when it was young. It’s a slick process I learned from Craig Hill. Old guys are intrigued by it. They will either walk down a populated beach or pull over in their boats to watch.
That’s when I will sometimes show off even more and pull out my custom made spike puller. I mean…how many spike pullers are there? Not many.
It makes one of the traditionally hardest parts of rebuilding a dock, pulling old spikes, relatively easy. Then there’s that end of the day buzz…cruising home in the work boat with a beverage between your legs, tools rattling about as you pass through the many boat wakes made by summer folks unaware of the little problems that were solved that day by…the dock boys.
Click on PRIEST LAKE WINTER Photos - Pecky Cox
As The Lake Churns www.priestlaker.com provides links to other web sites for your convenience only and assumes no responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of information contained within this web site or from information obtained in response to questions asked within. This website does not necessarily agree with content left under comments.
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I was just looking at the Coolin web camera and noticed that the old Bishop Marina storage facility is gone. Did it blow over in the storm this last winter? Are they planning on replacing it? I'll keep checking this site in the event someone is forming a work party.