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.
Rules at a glance
- Day tickets
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Farmoor Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
The sedge is on at Farmoor Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
66% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
11°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
April–June
Where
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — 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.
Plan B
If surface work dries up, try a diawl bach or hare's ear on the point and skate a sedge pattern on the bob at last light.
Watch for
Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Sedge is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Farmoor Reservoir · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Farmoor Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedFarmoor Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
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.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Farmoor Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Farmoor Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Farmoor Reservoir · sources
Useful links
External · open in a new tab
Booking & contacts
Farmoor Reservoir
Google Places
Two concrete-bowl reservoirs near Oxford — Farmoor I and Farmoor II — managed as a fly fishery.
Species
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Farmoor Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
The sedge is on at Farmoor Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
66% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
SW 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
11°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
April–June
Where
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — 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.
Plan B
If surface work dries up, try a diawl bach or hare's ear on the point and skate a sedge pattern on the bob at last light.
Watch for
Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Why this score
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Sedge is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Directions
About this water
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.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts