Lake depth chart
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44-acre lake near Stirling. The lake tops out around 11 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Loch Dochart draws 44 acres inside 1.6 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.7) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. End to end it runs roughly 0.6 mi, about 0.2 mi across. You'll find it in Stirling. For a second option, Loch Iubhair lies 1 mi northeast.
Come spring, look for brown trout tight to the bank in 1 to 11 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 11 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 11 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come summer. 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.
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 | 1 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: european perch in 3 to 11 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 11 ft through summer, 3 to 11 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 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.
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 11 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | 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 3 to 11 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 11 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 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.
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 | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Structure-wise the chart holds 5 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 9 ft.
Loch Dochart is about 11 ft (3 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.
Anglers target brown trout, european perch, northern pike on Loch Dochart. 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.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Iubhair 1 mi · Loch Essan 2 mi · Loch Doine 6 mi · Lochan na Bi 7 mi · Loch Voil 7 mi · Geal Loch 8 mi · Lochan Lairig Cheile 10 mi · Loch Katrine 10 mi · Loch Arklet 10 mi · Loch Sloy 11 mi · Loch Tinker 12 mi · Loch Chon 13 mi
See how Loch Dochart 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: Stirling fishing maps (20 charts). Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.