🇬🇧 Fishing at Grafham Water
One of the UK's most historic fly-fishing reservoirs
Grafham Water opened to fishing back in the 1960s and quickly became one of the country's most important fly-fishing destinations, hosting several major international competitions over the years. It remains highly regarded among fly anglers targeting rainbow and brown trout.
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Weather at Grafham Water
Best fishing times today
Day length: 11h 14mBite windows today
- Dawn05:09 – 07:13Excellent
- Morning07:13 – 11:50Good
- Midday11:50 – 14:27Calm
- Afternoon14:27 – 16:27Good
- Dusk16:27 – 18:31Excellent
- Night18:31 – 05:09Good
Geography & facts
Grafham Water sits in Cambridgeshire, eastern England. The reservoir covers around 4.9 km², built in the 1960s to supply drinking water to the region.
How to fish
Fly fishing from boat and bank dominates, with rainbow trout the main species alongside a smaller brown trout population. The season runs roughly March to December. Bank and boat fishing offer different conditions depending on weather and wind direction.
Fish species
Gear & tips for rainbow trout
- Streamers
- Egg patterns
- Nymphs
- Dry flies
- Boobies
Put-and-take fishing is common. Vary your depth. Popular Swedish waters: Bunn, Sommen and many small stocked put-and-take ponds.
Licence & rules
On top of the national Environment Agency licence, a separate permit from Grafham Water's own fishery management (Anglian Water) is required, which handles access and catch rules for the reservoir.
Full international rules overview →