River depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for zander.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
29,786-acre river near Deventer. The river tops out around 28 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Drawn out, this is 33,166 acres of water rimmed by 168.4 miles of bank, broken up by 11 islands. The 6.6 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 90% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 45.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 13.6 mi at the beam. For a second option, Toevoerkanaal Terwolde lies 2 mi west.
Vis- en dieptekaart van IJssel, Nederland: gemeten dieptelijnen (Rijkswaterstaat) tot 9 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.
Spring puts european perch in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 28 ft, wintering in 8 to 28 ft. Spring european perch concentrate at Weed flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Sharp break (16 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 33 ft | midday | Sharp break (16 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (16 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Spring puts zander in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 28 ft, wintering in 8 to 28 ft. Fall zander concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 16 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A vertical softbait over humps or a deep crankbait covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Gravel shoal (2 ft) | Softbait on jighead (10-12 cm), Shallow crankbait at dusk |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (16 ft) | Vertical softbait over humps, Deep crankbait |
| Fall | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (16 ft) | Big softbait (12-16 cm) slow-rolled, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (16 ft) | Vertical jig / mormyshka with bait, Slow blade bait |
Spring puts northern pike in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Weed flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring northern pike. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow flat (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (16 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Weed flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: common carp in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 15 ft, wintering in 8 to 28 ft. Top water on the chart: Weed flat, a weed flat in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Weed flat (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Weed flat (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | open water |
Count 18 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Surveyed deep channel, sits near 28 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 IJssel specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Netherlands fishing regulations →
IJssel is about 28 ft (9 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 IJssel. 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.
Weed flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 IJssel 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.
Toevoerkanaal Terwolde 2 mi · Terwoldse Wetering 3 mi · Fliert 3 mi · Apeldoorns Kanaal 4 mi · Nijbroekse Wetering 4 mi · Grift 6 mi · Voorsterbeek 7 mi · Grote Wetering 10 mi · Nieuwe Wetering 16 mi · Puttenerbeek 17 mi · Randmeren-oost 21 mi · Vechtdelta Groot Salland 21 mi
See how IJssel 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.