River Piddle · Dorset
The Oxbow
from £30 · 1 fish + 3 C&R
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Day tickets
Buy a ticket for a single day, with rates and dates further down.
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Stillwater
0.5 acres, bank fishing only.
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Bag limit of 2
You may take up to 2 fish. Check the rules below.
About The Oxbow
The Oxbow is one of the mid-sized pools at Wessex Fly Fishing Trout Lakes, at half an acre, matched in size by School Pool but worth fishing in its own right on any visit here. Half an acre still gives a fish somewhere to run when it's hooked, without turning the day into a long-range casting exercise.
The water is usually beautifully clear, so stalking individual fish is the order of the day: work round steadily rather than casting at random. Buzzers, pond olives, sedges and damsel flies hatch consistently through the season, and buzzers, goldhead nymphs, damsel nymphs and small lures all take fish. Rainbow Trout are stocked regularly from 1¾ lb to well over 4 lb, averaging around 2½ lb, with the occasional considerably larger fish among them.
Tickets start from £30.
How you can fish here
- Methods
- Fly Only
- Fly methods
- Dry Fly, Nymph, Streamer
- Banks
- Bank fishing only
Pricing and season
Indicative prices. They don't show whether a day is still free and other rates may apply, so confirm availability and the final price with whoever you book through before you travel.
Tickets
- Day Ticket (one fish) 1 fish + 3 C&R · 1 Jan to 31 Dec Take the first fish you catch, then release three more.
- £30 per day
- Day Ticket (two fish) 2 fish + 3 C&R · 1 Jan to 31 Dec Take the first two fish you catch, then release three more.
- £40 per day
Day tickets and booking
One ticket fishes the whole fishery. A booking here isn't limited to this beat. It covers all 5 beats at Wessex Fly Fishing Trout Lakes.
- Dorset Fly Fishing Day tickets
Tuition · Guided days · Ghillie services · Day tickets
£30–£40 Book
Prices by date
November 2026
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1£30
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December 2026
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1£30
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Day rate, hover a day for the ticket
Fishing details
- Difficulty
- Explorer (2/5)
- Water type
- Stillwater
- Size
- 0.5 acres
- Lake
- 1
- Boat fishing
- Bank only
Rules and policies
Catch & release
Bag limit: 2 fish
EA rod licence required
Dogs allowed
Ghillie available
Ghillie required
Where you'll fish
Location
The beat's boundary, with parking where we have it.
50.74625, -2.29602
Conditions on the River Piddle
The river and fishery
Dorset
River Piddle
Fed by the River Piddle
Wessex Fly Fishing Trout Lakes
from £30 for 1 fish + 3 C&R 5 beats
The River Piddle rises from chalk springs near Alton Pancras, high in the Dorset Downs, and runs 18 miles to Poole Harbour, joining the River Frome at Wareham. It flows south at first, then swings…
View the River Piddle guideFlies for this beat
Expected in November on the River Piddle
Typical months from the river’s hatch calendar, which applies along its whole length rather than to this beat. Not a live report.
We get a small commission if you buy through these links, and it costs you nothing extra. If the calendar has been useful and you feel like supporting an independent site, buying your flies this way is an easy way to do it.
Similar beats on the River Piddle
FishingBeats is an independent guide with no affiliation to the fisheries we list. Listings are editorial and unpaid, and are not supplied or approved by the fishery. See our listings policy. Listing details are compiled by FishingBeats and may change or contain mistakes. Some services, such as tuition, ghillies, or accommodation, may only apply to certain packages and not to standard day tickets. Always confirm pricing, fishing details, and what is included directly with the beat before you book. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@fishingbeats.com and we will correct it.
FAQ
The Oxbow FAQs
Practical questions anglers ask before fishing The Oxbow, from tickets to tactics.
01How many rods are allowed on The Oxbow at any one time?
The rod limit for The Oxbow is listed on the beat page — check before booking, as limits vary by season and fishery preference. Contact Wessex Fly Fishing Trout Lakes directly if you need to confirm current availability.
02What species can I expect to catch on The Oxbow?
The Oxbow holds Rainbow Trout. The beat is heavy-stocked to supplement the wild fish — see the Stocking section on the page for details.
03Do I need to wade, or can I fish from the bank?
The Oxbow is bank-fishing only — no wading is permitted.
04Is a ghillie available, and do I need one?
No ghillie service is listed for The Oxbow at Wessex Fly Fishing Trout Lakes — contact the provider directly if you'd like informal guidance on your first visit.
05Where do I park, and how do I access the beat?
Parking details for The Oxbow are shown on the beat page, including a map pin where one is provided. Always confirm access arrangements with the provider when you book.
06What tackle should I bring?
The Oxbow permits the following fly methods: dry_fly, nymph, streamer. The fly recommendations section on the The Oxbow page suggests the most effective patterns month by month.
07What happens if conditions are poor on the day I've booked?
River conditions can change quickly, especially after rain. Contact the provider as early as possible if you're concerned about The Oxbow at Wessex Fly Fishing Trout Lakes — many are happy to offer an alternative date if the river is unfishable. Cancellation and rescheduling policies vary by provider; check the notes on the booking page or ask when you book.
08Are dogs allowed on the beat?
Dogs are not listed as permitted on The Oxbow. Check the Beat Rules section on the page or contact the provider before bringing a dog, as policies can vary by season and stretch of the River Piddle.
Worth a read
£30 for 1 fish + 3 C&R
Today's rate
