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260-acre lake near Highland. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The depth data here comes from Murray & Pullar's Scottish loch survey of 1903, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Traced from the shoreline, Loch Ailsh runs 260 acres with 3.4 miles of edge. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 79% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 1 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.7 mi at the beam. The water lies in Highland. For a second option, Loch Sail an Ruathair lies 3 mi north.
Spring brown trout on Loch Ailsh hold shallow, usually 3 to 24 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 7 to 24 ft in summer, 3 to 24 ft once it turns cold. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 18 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).
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 4 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
In spring, european perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 24 ft before dropping to 7 to 24 ft for winter. Fall european perch concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 24 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| 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 | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (24 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (24 ft) | 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. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for fall 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 | Break off the point (18 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (18 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 |
Loch Ailsh carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 24 ft down.
Loch Ailsh is about 24 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from Murray & Pullar's Scottish loch survey of 1903, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910.
Anglers target brown trout, european perch, northern pike on Loch Ailsh. 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.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 24 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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.
Loch Sail an Ruathair 3 mi · Loch Borralan 3 mi · Loch Craggie 3 mi · Loch Urigill 4 mi · Loch Awe 5 mi · Cam Loch 7 mi · Lochan Fhionnlaidh 8 mi · Gorm Loch Mór 9 mi · Loch Veyatie or Loch a Mhadail 9 mi · Loch Bealach na h-Uidhe or Loch Bealach a Bhuirich 10 mi · Loch na Gainimh 10 mi · Lochan Feòir 10 mi
See how Loch Ailsh stacks up: best northern pike lakes in United Kingdom · best european perch lakes in United Kingdom · best brown trout lakes in United Kingdom
More water nearby: Highland fishing maps (242 charts). Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey 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.