Lake depth chart
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Rating depth structure for zander.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
3,560-acre lake in Switzerland. The lake tops out around 283 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Drawn out, this is 3,519 acres of water rimmed by 12.1 miles of bank — one island included. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 3% of this chart. Tip to tip the water measures near 4.7 mi with a 1.7-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Lake Baldegg, 6 mi northeast of here.
In spring, european perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 28 ft before dropping to 12 to 33 ft for winter. Spring european perch concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 1 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) most summer days.
| 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 | Shallow bay flat (1 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 | open water | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a feeding flat at roughly 1 ft, rated prime for spring northern pike. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage most summer days.
| 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 |
In spring, zander run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 35 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. Fall zander concentrate at Sharp break, a prime-rated drop-off around 45 ft. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a vertical softbait over humps or a deep crankbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Softbait on jighead (10-12 cm), Shallow crankbait at dusk |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Vertical softbait over humps, Deep crankbait |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Sharp break (45 ft) | Big softbait (12-16 cm) slow-rolled, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Sharp break (45 ft) | Vertical jig / mormyshka with bait, Slow blade bait |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 15 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 40 to 90 ft, then a winter hold in 25 to 70 ft. Start at Sharp break. It's a drop-off holding about 45 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (45 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Sharp break (45 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 | Sharp break (45 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring brown trout on Lake Sempach hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 25 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 35 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 45 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run after dark and early morning. The summer box starts with a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night).
| 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 | Sharp break (45 ft) | 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 | Sharp break (45 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: burbot in 25 to 70 ft. As the season builds they drop to 50 to 120 ft, wintering in 15 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 45 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for after dark and midday. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Sharp break (45 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Sharp break (45 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Lake Sempach also holds common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 283 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Sempach specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Switzerland fishing regulations →
Lake Sempach is about 283 ft (86 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, burbot, common carp on Lake Sempach.
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 45 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Lake Sempach 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 Baldegg 6 mi · Rotsee 9 mi · Lake Hallwil 10 mi · Lake Zug 16 mi · Lake Lucerne 18 mi · Lake Sarnen 19 mi · Lake Ägeri 22 mi · Lake Lungern 24 mi · Lake Zürich 29 mi · Lake Brienz 31 mi · Lake Thun 36 mi · Lake Biel 47 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.