Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Loch of Stenness
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Loch of Stenness: what the data says
1,938-acre lake near Orkney Islands. The lake tops out around 17 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Loch of Stenness draws 1,934 acres inside 12.2 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 2) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Roughly 87% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Brown Trout fishing at Loch of Stenness
When the water first warms, brown trout slide up into 2 to 17 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 17 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 17 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Keep a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 17 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 3 to 17 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 17 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Loch of Stenness
Start shallow in spring: european perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 17 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 17 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Loch of Stenness
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 17 ft before dropping to 5 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 14 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Loch of Stenness?
Loch of Stenness is about 17 ft (5 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 of Stenness?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout on Loch of Stenness. 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 of Stenness?
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 interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Loch of Stenness?
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 of Harray 2 mi · Loch of Kirbister 6 mi · Loch of Boardhouse 8 mi · Loch of Hundland 8 mi · Loch of Swannay 9 mi · Lochs of Geniefea 11 mi · Peerie Water 12 mi · Muckle Water 13 mi · Hoglinns Water 14 mi · Loch of Tankerness 15 mi · Loch of Easter Head 23 mi · St Johns Loch 26 mi
See how Loch of Stenness stacks up: best northern pike lakes in United Kingdom · best european perch lakes in United Kingdom · best brown trout 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.