A 630-hectare reservoir that pioneered modern English stillwater fly fishing — Grafham practically invented the lure-stripping and buzzer techniques that spread everywhere else. Consistently produces big fish: rainbows average 2–3 lb with regulars to 5 lb+, and wild browns to double figures lurk in the deeper water. Boat and bank fishing; the dam wall and Savage's Creek are legendary bank marks. Buzzer hatches from April are prolific; the reservoir's exposed position means wind lanes concentrate food and fish. Managed by Anglian Water with day tickets and boat hire from the lodge.
Rules at a glance
- Day tickets
Good late spring conditions for Grafham Water
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Current conditions suit Grafham Water well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
68% confidence in this read
This is peak season for the venue, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.
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
Broken
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
Buzzers dawn through late morning April through June — Grafham is a buzzer factory in spring. Daphnia mid-water in summer; sedges into September; lures and boobies for the back-end.
Where
The dam wall is the classic bank pitch; boat anglers drift the open water from Hill Farm. Wind lanes through the middle hold concentrations of fish.
Method
Drift on a floater with buzzers under indicator early in the year, or fish the washing line on calm days (booby on the point with buzzers on the droppers); midge-tip and team of three through summer; sweeping line and boobies into October.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Start with Blob (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Plan B
If fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
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
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
The water
On the lough
1 photos + lough map
Gallery · 2
Grafham Rainbow Terrain map
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Grafham Water · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
Best for
- Serious Fly
- Boat
- Competition
About this water
Grafham Water, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedGrafham Water · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A 630-hectare reservoir that pioneered modern English stillwater fly fishing — Grafham practically invented the lure-stripping and buzzer techniques that spread everywhere else. Consistently produces big fish: rainbows average 2–3 lb with regulars to 5 lb+, and wild browns to double figures lurk in the deeper water. Boat and bank fishing; the dam wall and Savage's Creek are legendary bank marks. Buzzer hatches from April are prolific; the reservoir's exposed position means wind lanes concentrate food and fish. Managed by Anglian Water with day tickets and boat hire from the lodge.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Grafham Water · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Grafham Water · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Grafham Water · sources
Useful links
External · open in a new tab
Booking & contacts
Grafham Water
Editorial photo
Grafham Rainbow
Damian Rafferty
A 630-hectare reservoir that pioneered modern English stillwater fly fishing — Grafham practically invented the lure-stripping and buzzer techniques that spread everywhere else.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Grafham Water
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Current conditions suit Grafham Water well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
68% confidence in this read
This is peak season for the venue, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.
Conditions
Wind
SW 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
11°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
91%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Grafham Water — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Buzzers dawn through late morning April through June — Grafham is a buzzer factory in spring. Daphnia mid-water in summer; sedges into September; lures and boobies for the back-end.
Where
The dam wall is the classic bank pitch; boat anglers drift the open water from Hill Farm. Wind lanes through the middle hold concentrations of fish.
Method
Drift on a floater with buzzers under indicator early in the year, or fish the washing line on calm days (booby on the point with buzzers on the droppers); midge-tip and team of three through summer; sweeping line and boobies into October.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Blob (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Plan B
If fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
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
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Hawthorn Fly 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 · 2
Grafham Rainbow Terrain map
Directions
About this water
A 630-hectare reservoir that pioneered modern English stillwater fly fishing — Grafham practically invented the lure-stripping and buzzer techniques that spread everywhere else. Consistently produces big fish: rainbows average 2–3 lb with regulars to 5 lb+, and wild browns to double figures lurk in the deeper water. Boat and bank fishing; the dam wall and Savage's Creek are legendary bank marks. Buzzer hatches from April are prolific; the reservoir's exposed position means wind lanes concentrate food and fish. Managed by Anglian Water with day tickets and boat hire from the lodge.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A 630-hectare reservoir that pioneered modern English stillwater fly fishing — Grafham practically invented the lure-stripping and buzzer techniques that spread everywhere else. Consistently produces big fish: rainbows average 2–3 lb with regulars to 5 lb+, and wild browns to double figures lurk in the deeper water. Boat and bank fishing; the dam wall and Savage's Creek are legendary bank marks. Buzzer hatches from April are prolific; the reservoir's exposed position means wind lanes concentrate food and fish. Managed by Anglian Water with day tickets and boat hire from the lodge.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts