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379-acre lake near Highland. The lake tops out around 42 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 1897-1909, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 378 acres, worked by 5.5 miles of shoreline. With a 2 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 71% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 2.2 mi, about 0.7 mi across. Highland claims this one. If the bite dies, Loch a Choire is 1 mi to the northeast.
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 13 to 42 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 35 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 25 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Time it for after dark and early morning. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) 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 | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (5 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 13 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Secondary point (5 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Spring european perch on Loch Ruthven hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 28 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 33 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 25 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern).
| 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 | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Break off the point (25 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| 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 (5 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Secondary point (5 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Secondary point (5 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: arctic char sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 13 to 42 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 42 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) 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 | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 13 to 42 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | dawn | Deep basin (42 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (42 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Loch Ruthven; the deepest is Deep basin at about 42 ft.
Loch Ruthven is about 42 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from Murray & Pullar's Scottish loch survey of 1897-1909, digitized from the bathymetric atlas published in 1910.
Anglers target brown trout, european perch, northern pike, arctic char on Loch Ruthven. 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.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 a Choire 1 mi · Loch Duntelchaig or Loch nan Geadas 2 mi · Loch Ceo Glais 2 mi · Loch a Chlachan 3 mi · Loch Ashie 4 mi · Loch Laide 6 mi · Loch Dochfour 7 mi · Loch Mhor 7 mi · Loch Ness 8 mi · Loch Bran 9 mi · Loch Dubh 9 mi · Loch Moy 11 mi
See how Loch Ruthven 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.