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Fishing Loch of Swannay: what the data says
576-acre lake near Orkney Islands. The lake tops out around 16 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, Loch of Swannay draws 575 acres inside 4.9 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.5) — enough points and pockets to pattern. 91% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water.
Brown Trout fishing at Loch of Swannay
When the water first warms, brown trout slide up into 2 to 16 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 16 ft through summer, 2 to 16 ft in winter. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 7 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.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 5 to 16 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 3 to 16 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 16 ft | dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Loch of Swannay
Start shallow in spring: european perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 16 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 16 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 you'll meet the bite. 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 16 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 5 to 16 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Loch of Swannay
The spring pattern is a shallow one: northern pike in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 16 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3-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 (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 5 to 16 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 5 to 16 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (7 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 7 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Loch of Swannay?
Loch of Swannay is about 16 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 Swannay?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout on Loch of Swannay. 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 Swannay?
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 Swannay?
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 Hundland 2 mi · Loch of Boardhouse 3 mi · Muckle Water 5 mi · Peerie Water 6 mi · Loch of Harray 8 mi · Loch of Stenness 9 mi · Loch of Kirbister 13 mi · Loch of Tankerness 17 mi · Lochs of Geniefea 21 mi · Hoglinns Water 23 mi · Loch of Easter Head 33 mi · St Johns Loch 35 mi
See how Loch of Swannay 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.