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Rating depth structure for zander.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
7,181-acre river near Werkendam. The river tops out around 44 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
On the chart, Boven- en Beneden Merwede draws 9,486 acres inside 51.7 miles of shoreline, with 2 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 3.8) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 64% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 16.3 mi with a 3.2-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Brabantse Biesbosch, 6 mi southwest of here.
Vis- en dieptekaart van Boven- en Beneden Merwede, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 13 m, met visstekken voor baars, snoekbaars, snoek. De dieptelijnen zijn berekend uit gemeten bodemhoogten van Rijkswaterstaat en het officiële lokale streefpeil (NAP). Gebruik de kaart als visgids, nooit voor navigatie.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 28 ft, wintering in 12 to 33 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 18 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (7 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Sharp break (18 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Sharp break (18 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: zander in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 15 to 35 ft, wintering in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 18 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a vertical softbait over humps or a deep crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (2 ft) | Softbait on jighead (10-12 cm), Shallow crankbait at dusk |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (18 ft) | Vertical softbait over humps, Deep crankbait |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (18 ft) | Big softbait (12-16 cm) slow-rolled, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (18 ft) | Vertical jig / mormyshka with bait, Slow blade bait |
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 18 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (7 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (18 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (18 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring puts common carp in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 15 ft, wintering in 10 to 30 ft. Spring common carp concentrate at Shallow feeding flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 7 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | open water |
The chart marks 14 structure features on Boven- en Beneden Merwede; the deepest is Surveyed deep channel at about 44 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Netherlands waters are set by the Sportvisserij Nederland (VISpas & VISplanner) — and special regulations can apply to Boven- en Beneden Merwede specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
Boven- en Beneden Merwede is about 44 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target european perch, zander, northern pike, common carp on Boven- en Beneden Merwede. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for zander in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For european perch, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Boven- en Beneden Merwede is regulated by the Sportvisserij Nederland (VISpas & VISplanner). Check the official Netherlands regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Brabantse Biesbosch 6 mi · Dordtse Biesbosch 6 mi · Bergsche Maas 8 mi · Beneden Maas 10 mi · Oude Maas 10 mi · Nieuwe Maas 12 mi · Hollandsche IJssel 14 mi · Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal Betuwepand 25 mi · Haringvliet-oost 25 mi · Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal Noordpand 27 mi · Volkerak 30 mi · Haringvliet-west 31 mi
See how Boven- en Beneden Merwede stacks up: best zander lakes in Netherlands · best northern pike lakes in Netherlands · best european perch lakes in Netherlands · best common carp lakes in Netherlands
Browse all Netherlands fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Rijkswaterstaat measured bed elevations and official target water levels, CC0. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.