Coeur d’Alene lake is approximately 25-30 miles long, 1-3 miles wide with around 110-135 miles of shoreline giving it a surface area of roughly 49.5 square miles or about 27,000-30,000 acres. The lake sits at about 2120’ elevation, and has an average depth of 120’. The lake is primarily fed by the Coeur d'Alene River, St. Joe River, and St. Maries rivers; it outflows into the Spokane River which feeds into the Columbia River system.

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The lake was naturally formed during the last ice age; today the water level is controlled by the Post Falls Dam (operated by Avista). Because its formation was carved by glacial activity it features a mix of deep basins, shallow bays, wetlands, and forested shorelines. All of this provides a rich and diverse fishery, with excellent Kokanee, Large and Small mouth bass, Pike, and one of the few lakes in the country supporting Land locked Chinook Salmon. These Chinook Salmon are the target of The Big One Derby