Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch: what the data says
326-acre lake near Highland. The lake tops out around 68 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Traced from the shoreline, Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch runs 325 acres with 6.5 miles of edge. With a shoreline index of 2.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 19% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Brown Trout fishing at Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch
Spring brown trout on Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch 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 Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 58 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 (17 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Deep basin (58 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (17 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch
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 weed flat around 6 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 (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 | Deep basin (58 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (58 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch
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 weed flat at roughly 6 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 (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 Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch
Come spring, look for arctic char tight to the bank in 4 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 20 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 40 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 58 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) is the honest summer answer here.
| 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 (58 ft) | 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 | Deep basin (58 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 58 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 17 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 17 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch?
Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch is about 68 ft (21 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 Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout, arctic char on Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch. 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 Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch?
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. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
When is the best time to fish Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch?
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 Bràigh Horrisdale 3 mi · Loch a Ghobhainn 3 mi · Loch Bad a Chròtha 4 mi · Loch a Bhealaich 4 mi · Loch na h-Oidhche 4 mi · Loch Tollaidh 5 mi · Loch Maree 6 mi · Loch Kernsary or Loch na h-Airde Bige 6 mi · Loch Ghiuragarstidh 7 mi · Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair 9 mi · Fionn Loch or Dubh Loch 9 mi · Loch na Mòine Buige 9 mi
See how Loch Bad an Sgalaig or Dubh Loch 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.