Lake depth chart
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282-acre lake near Aberdeenshire. The lake tops out around 6 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 1905, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The outline encloses 281 acres, worked by 2.8 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.2) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Call it 1 mi long by 0.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. Aberdeenshire claims this one. If the bite dies, Loch of Aboyne is 16 mi to the west.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 1 to 6 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 6 ft through summer, 1 to 6 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 5 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) 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 | 1 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Come spring, look for european perch tight to the bank in 2 to 6 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 6 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 6 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) 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 | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (6 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (6 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (6 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 6 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 6 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 6 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 5 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
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 6 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 6 ft, is the deepest of them.
Loch of Skene is about 6 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from Murray & Pullar's Scottish loch survey of 1905, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910.
Anglers target brown trout, european perch, northern pike on Loch of Skene. 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 6 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in fall. 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 of Aboyne 16 mi · Loch Davan 22 mi · Loch Kinord 22 mi · Loch Muick 34 mi · Lochnagar 36 mi · Loch Builg 37 mi · Balgavies Loch 38 mi · Rescobie Loch or Roscobie Loch 38 mi · Loch Fithie 39 mi · Loch Callater 40 mi · Loch of Forfar 41 mi · Crombie Reservoir 44 mi
See how Loch of Skene 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: Aberdeenshire fishing maps (8 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.