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107-acre lake near Perth and Kinross. The lake tops out around 25 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Loch of Butterstone draws 107 acres inside 1.8 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. 78% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 0.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.5 mi at the beam. The water lies in Perth and Kinross. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Loch of Lowes or Loch of the Lowes, 1 mi southwest of here.
When the water first warms, brown trout slide up into 3 to 25 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 8 to 25 ft, winter 4 to 25 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 25 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run after dark and early morning. Keep a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) rigged through the warm months.
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 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (9 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 4 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (9 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Start shallow in spring: european perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 7 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 25 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) 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 | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 7 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (25 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 2 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| 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 | Secondary point (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Secondary point (9 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 7 to 25 ft before dropping to 5 to 25 ft for winter. Spring rainbow trout concentrate at Secondary point, a prime-rated point around 9 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon 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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 25 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (25 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Loch of Butterstone carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 25 ft down.
Loch of Butterstone is about 25 ft (8 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, rainbow trout on Loch of Butterstone. 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 25 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 of Lowes or Loch of the Lowes 1 mi · Loch of Craiglush 1 mi · Loch Benachally 3 mi · Loch of Clunie 3 mi · Loch Ordie 4 mi · Loch of Drumellie or Marlee Loch 5 mi · Rae Loch 6 mi · Loch Skiach 7 mi · White Loch 7 mi · Black Loch 7 mi · Loch Broom 9 mi · Loch Scoly 9 mi
See how Loch of Butterstone 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: Perth and Kinross fishing maps (40 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.