Stillwater · Mixed · London / Waltham Forest, GB-ENG

Walthamstow Reservoirs

Walthamstow Reservoirs venue image

London’s most significant fly fishing venue — a chain of Victorian reservoirs in the Lee Valley managed by Thames Water.

Fair · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Fairlive now
Reasonable summer fishing likely at Walthamstow Reservoirs
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
60% confidence
What moved it
  • WindN 14 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Marabou Damsel
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
N 14 km/h
N
N
from the north
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp17°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure—
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Walthamstow Reservoirs well for summer tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Early morning is often the most productive window in summer — make the most of it.
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

Plan B

Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.

Watch for

Welshman's Button should come on through the afternoon as the water warms.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%

A good match for Walthamstow Reservoirs — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Norton Fishery
16 km
Rainbow trout
Thornwood Springs Trout Fishery
16 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
River Wandle
23 km
Brown trout · Barbel · Chub
Rib Valley Fishing Lakes
26 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Redbournbury Fishery
31 km
Rainbow trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

London’s most significant fly fishing venue — a chain of Victorian reservoirs in the Lee Valley managed by Thames Water. Reservoirs 4 and 5 offer day-ticket fly fishing; East Warwick is members-only catch-and-release. All bank fishing only — no boats. The deep concrete-banked margins put 15–20 feet of water within casting range, making depth control and straight-line buzzer technique the key skills. Around 11,000 rainbow and brown trout stocked across the season. Excellent public transport access (Blackhorse Road tube, 10-minute walk) makes this a genuine after-work option for London anglers.

  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations