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111-acre lake near Orkney Islands. The lake tops out around 20 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Muckle Water maps at 111 acres behind 2.6 miles of shoreline. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 79% of this chart. Figure 1.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.3 mi at the beam. Orkney Islands claims this one. Peerie Water sits 0 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 20 ft. Summer keeps them at 6 to 20 ft, and they winter in 3 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 9 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 | 2 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 3 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (5 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Spring european perch on Muckle Water hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Back-bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern).
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 | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 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 | Break off the point (9 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Back-bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Muckle Water; the deepest is Deep basin at about 20 ft.
Muckle Water is about 20 ft (6 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 on Muckle Water. 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.
Back-bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. 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.
Peerie Water 0 mi · Loch of Swannay 5 mi · Loch of Hundland 7 mi · Loch of Boardhouse 8 mi · Loch of Harray 11 mi · Loch of Stenness 13 mi · Loch of Kirbister 14 mi · Loch of Tankerness 15 mi · Lochs of Geniefea 24 mi · Hoglinns Water 26 mi · Loch of Easter Head 35 mi · St Johns Loch 37 mi
See how Muckle Water 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: Orkney Islands fishing maps (11 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.