Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Two concrete-bowl reservoirs near Oxford — Farmoor I and Farmoor II — managed as a fly fishery. The exposed, featureless water demands mobile fishing: find the fish, cover them, move on. Bank fishing around the perimeter; boat fishing on Farmoor II. The concrete bowl means fish cruise predictable circuits. Well stocked with rainbows. Buzzer fishing excellent from April; evening sedge hatches in summer can produce spectacular sport. Managed by Thames Water.
Farmoor Reservoir
Rhododendrites - CC BY-SA 4.0
Two concrete-bowl reservoirs near Oxford — Farmoor I and Farmoor II — managed as a fly fishery.
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Two concrete-bowl reservoirs near Oxford — Farmoor I and Farmoor II — managed as a fly fishery. The exposed, featureless water demands mobile fishing: find the fish, cover them, move on. Bank fishing around the perimeter; boat fishing on Farmoor II. The concrete bowl means fish cruise predictable circuits. Well stocked with rainbows. Buzzer fishing excellent from April; evening sedge hatches in summer can produce spectacular sport. Managed by Thames Water.
