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Rating depth structure for northern pike.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
5,992-acre lake in Switzerland. The lake tops out around 470 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Walensee runs 5,931 acres with 23.6 miles of edge, broken up by 4 islands. With a shoreline index of 2.2, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 6% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 9.6 mi with a 1.6-mi widest point. For a second option, Lake Zürich lies 24 mi northwest.
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 feeding flat in the 1 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 (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 |
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 feeding flat in the 1 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 (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 |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 40 to 90 ft game here, winter a 25 to 70 ft one. The chart's best answer is Feeding flat — feeding flat, 93 ft, good for summer. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (93 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 | open water | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
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 Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 1 ft of water and rates prime come spring. 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 (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) |
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 Shallow bay flat — feeding flat, 1 ft, good for spring. 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 | 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 |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 25 to 70 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 50 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 60 ft. Plan around after dark and midday in the warm months. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
| 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 |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 469 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 Walensee specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Switzerland fishing regulations →
Walensee is about 470 ft (143 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 Walensee.
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. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Walensee 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 Zürich 24 mi · Lake Ägeri 27 mi · Lake Zug 33 mi · Bodensee (Lake Constance) 36 mi, DEU/CHE/AUT · Lake Lucerne 37 mi · Rotsee 42 mi · Lake Baldegg 44 mi · Lake Hallwil 47 mi · Lake Sempach 49 mi · Lake Sarnen 50 mi · Lake Lungern 54 mi · Lake Silvaplana 54 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.