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1,600-acre lake near Highland. The lake tops out around 217 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 1902, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Loch Loyal draws 1,596 acres inside 11.6 miles of shoreline. Index 2.1 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. About 35% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 4.1 mi, about 1.6 mi across. The water lies in Highland. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Loch Craggie, 3 mi north of here.
Spring brown trout on Loch Loyal 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 Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 26 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 (4 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (26 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (26 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
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 Back-bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 7 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 | Back-bay flat (7 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Break off the point (26 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Break off the point (26 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (26 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. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 2 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 (2 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (7 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (7 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
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 Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 26 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 | Break off the point (26 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (26 ft) | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (26 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 217 ft, is the deepest of them.
Loch Loyal is about 217 ft (66 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from Murray & Pullar's Scottish loch survey of 1902, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910.
Anglers target brown trout, european perch, northern pike, arctic char on Loch Loyal. 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.
Back-bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. The interactive chart above rates every 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 Craggie 3 mi · Loch Syre 3 mi · Loch Coulside or Loch Cuil na Sithe 4 mi · Loch an Dheurue 5 mi · Loch Naver 7 mi · Loch Meadie 8 mi · unnamed 9 mi · Loch Truderscaig 11 mi · Loch Hope 11 mi · Loch Choire or Loch Coir an Fhearna 12 mi · Loch an Alltan Fheàrna 12 mi · Loch Coire nam Mang 12 mi
See how Loch Loyal 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
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.