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Rating depth structure for zander.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
9,708-acre lake in Switzerland. The lake tops out around 242 ft. The depth chart comes from Federal Office of Topography swisstopo (swissBATHY3D) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Lake Biel maps at 9,694 acres behind 38.3 miles of shoreline, with a single island in the mix. The 2.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 19% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 9.4 mi of water from one end to the other, 3.1 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Lake Morat, is 11 mi to the south.
Spring european perch on Lake Biel hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 28 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 33 ft. Put Feeding flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 8 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (23 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | open water | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. Start at Feeding flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (8 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Spring zander on Lake Biel hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. They move out to 15 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. Put Shoreline point first on the milk run — a point near 5 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a vertical softbait over humps or a deep crankbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Softbait on jighead (10-12 cm), Shallow crankbait at dusk |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Feeding flat (23 ft) | Vertical softbait over humps, Deep crankbait |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Big softbait (12-16 cm) slow-rolled, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Vertical jig / mormyshka with bait, Slow blade bait |
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 40 to 90 ft, and winter fish settle into 25 to 70 ft. The spot to know is Feeding flat, a feeding flat in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (23 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (65 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (65 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 5 to 35 ft for winter. Spring brown trout concentrate at Shoreline point, a prime-rated point around 5 ft. Fish it in after dark and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | open water | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Start shallow in spring: arctic char sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 60 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Feeding flat, a feeding flat in about 8 ft of water that rates good for arctic char in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (8 ft) | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | open water | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Lake Biel also holds european grayling (3 to 15 ft in summer), burbot (50 to 120 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 11 structure features on Lake Biel; the deepest is Deep basin at about 240 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Switzerland waters are set by the Federal Office for the Environment (federal framework; licences and rules are cantonal) — and special regulations can apply to Lake Biel specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Switzerland fishing regulations →
Lake Biel is about 242 ft (74 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Federal Office of Topography swisstopo (swissBATHY3D) bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target european perch, northern pike, zander, lake whitefish, brown trout, arctic char, european grayling, burbot, common carp on Lake Biel.
Feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 8 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 Lake Biel is regulated by the Federal Office for the Environment (federal framework; licences and rules are cantonal). Check the official Switzerland regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Morat 11 mi · Lake Neuchâtel 20 mi · Lake Thun 38 mi · Lake Brienz 46 mi · Lake Sempach 47 mi · Lac de Joux 51 mi · Lake Lungern 52 mi · Lake Hallwil 52 mi · Lake Sarnen 52 mi · Lake Baldegg 53 mi · Rotsee 55 mi · Lake Geneva 58 mi, CHE/FRA
Browse all Switzerland fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, swissBATHY3D (Open Government Data). 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.