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Fishing Lake of Menteith: what the data says
630-acre lake near Stirling. The lake tops out around 77 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Lake of Menteith draws 628 acres inside 5.4 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.5) — enough points and pockets to pattern. About 53% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone.
Brown Trout fishing at Lake of Menteith
Come spring, look for brown trout tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 35 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (35 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (19 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (35 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Lake of Menteith
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: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6-ft range, prime in spring. 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 bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Break off the point (35 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (35 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Lake of Menteith
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: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6-ft range, prime in spring. 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 bay flat (6 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Arctic Char fishing at Lake of Menteith
Early season arctic char use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 20 to 60 ft game here, winter a 10 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 65 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (65 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (35 ft) | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (35 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 65 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 35 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 19 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 19 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake of Menteith?
Lake of Menteith is about 77 ft (23 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Lake of Menteith?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout, arctic char on Lake of Menteith. 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.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake of Menteith?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake of Menteith?
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Loch Venachar 3 mi · Loch Drunkie 3 mi · Loch Achray 5 mi · Loch Ard 7 mi · Loch Lubnaig 8 mi · Loch Tinker 9 mi · Loch Dhu 9 mi · Loch Chon 10 mi · Loch Katrine 11 mi · Loch Lomond 13 mi · Loch Voil 13 mi · Loch Doine 13 mi
See how Lake of Menteith stacks up: best northern pike lakes in United Kingdom · best european perch lakes in United Kingdom · best brown trout lakes in United Kingdom · best arctic char lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.