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Rating depth structure for northern pike.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,816-acre lake in Switzerland. The lake tops out around 163 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Lake Sarnen runs 1,813 acres with 9.4 miles of edge. Index 1.6 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 7% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.6 mi with a 1.3-mi widest point. For a second option, Lake Lungern lies 5 mi southwest.
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 12 to 33 ft. Summer european perch concentrate at Feeding flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 29 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (29 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 (29 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
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. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 1 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 | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, lake whitefish slide up into 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 40 to 90 ft game here, winter a 25 to 70 ft one. Start at Feeding flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 44 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (44 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (44 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Feeding flat (44 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Early season brown trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 1 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 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 | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
When the water first warms, arctic char slide up into 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 20 to 60 ft game here, winter a 10 to 40 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 1 ft of water and rates good come spring. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 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 |
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 25 to 70 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 50 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 60 ft. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy jig + cut bait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | open water | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | open water | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | open water | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | open water | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Lake Sarnen carries 8 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 162 ft down.
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 Sarnen specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Switzerland fishing regulations →
Lake Sarnen is about 163 ft (50 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, lake whitefish, brown trout, arctic char, burbot on Lake Sarnen.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike 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 Sarnen 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 Lungern 5 mi · Lake Lucerne 14 mi · Rotsee 15 mi · Lake Brienz 15 mi · Lake Sempach 19 mi · Lake Zug 22 mi · Lake Baldegg 23 mi · Lake Thun 26 mi · Lake Ägeri 26 mi · Lake Hallwil 29 mi · Lake Zürich 38 mi · Walensee 50 mi
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.