TackleIndex
RiverDay ticketGuest ticket

Culham Lock / Weir (EA)

Culham Lock / Weir is an Environment Agency lock-and-weir fishery on the navigable River Thames near Culham village. It’s a proper half-mile lock cut upstream, plus a marked fishing area downstream beyond the bridge.

Run by Environment Agency · checked 12 Oct 2026

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Culham Lock gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

Loading latest reading…

We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready

The lowdown

  • The upstream fishing area runs along the entire lock cut for roughly half a mile, so there’s a fair bit of bank to explore rather than just one tight little swim.
  • There’s also fishing downstream of the lock, but only beyond the bridge and within the marked fishing area. Stick to the authorised routes and marked spots.
  • This is a seasonal venue. The Culham site guide allows fishing from 1 October to 14 March only, even though the wider 2026–2027 EA permit season runs from 16 June 2026 to 14 March 2027.
  • Fishing is dawn to dusk. No sneaky night session here, and there’s no fishing during the normal river closed season from 15 March to 15 June.
  • It’s first-come, first-served, so there are no booked pegs to fuss over. Get there early if you’ve got your heart set on a particular bit of bank.
  • There’s no car park at the lock itself. Use the public car park in Culham village, then make your way to the fishery on the authorised access routes.
  • Toilets are available at the lock during lock-keeper duty hours. Handy enough, especially for a full day on the bank.
  • Keepnets are banned at EA lock-and-weir fishing sites. Fishing upstream of weir structures and from the weir bullnoses is also prohibited.
  • Coarse-fishing and eel permits allow up to two rods and lines where byelaws permit. Other species are limited to one rod and line. Lead weights from 0.06g to 28.35g are illegal.
  • Under-16s need continuous adult supervision, and both the youngster and supervising adult must have their own valid permit and rod licence. Salmon and sea-trout catches must be reported, and returned when using a coarse fishing licence.

Methods: The permit covers coarse fish and eels where byelaws allow, with up to two rods and lines. Keep things within the marked areas and permitted routes, and check the relevant byelaws before fishing.

Access & tickets

Adult EA lock-and-weir permit, 2026–2027

Required alongside a valid UK fishing rod licence. Allows up to two rods and lines for coarse fish and eels where byelaws allow, and one rod for other species.

£38 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Concessionary EA lock-and-weir permit, 2026–2027

For senior citizens over 60, juniors aged 13 to 16 inclusive, and registered Blue Badge holders.

£24 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Buy the current Environment Agency River Thames lock-and-weir permit. Abingdon is one of the listed sites covered, and anglers must show the permit to the lock keeper on arrival if the site is locked. The EA lock office number is 01235 522 061.

Fish the club names

The club doesn't list species for this stretch, so we haven't guessed.

Key rules

  • A current EA lock-and-weir fishing permit and a valid UK fishing rod licence are required.
  • Fishing is available at this site from 1 October to 14 March only.
  • The permit is subject to the normal river closed season from 15 March to 15 June.
  • Fishing is restricted to authorised routes and marked fishing areas.
  • Keepnets are prohibited at EA lock-and-weir fishing sites.
  • Fishing from banks upstream of weir structures and from weir bullnoses is prohibited.
  • Permits are not transferable.
  • A guest may fish free with the permit holder up to three times per year, subject to the buddy-card procedure.

Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

Community reported

Recent angler updates

No angler updates yet — that's normal. Be the first to help the next angler.

How busy was it?

Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.

No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.

Water updates from anglers

No active water updates.

Help other anglers