Banbury Reservoir in Greater London: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Banbury Reservoir sits in Greater London, out in England. It sits 21 miles in from the sea. With some 90 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Shoreline comes to about 1.6 miles, small enough to learn in a day. You are 1.1 miles from Northumberland Park. The big place round here is Walthamstow, 1.2 miles distant. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Banbury Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Species logged across Greater London include European eel, common carp, perch and roach. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Banbury Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 18°C at the top of summer and 5°C at the bottom of winter. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Banbury Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. F. Clover & Sons is the mapped fishing point, half a mile out. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lockwood Reservoir at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. For Banbury Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.