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The Mill
Heathman Street
Nether Wallop
STOCKBRIDGE
Hampshire SO20 8EW
T: 01264 781988
F: 01264 782590
info@fishingbreaks.co.uk
www.fishingbreaks.co.uk
 

Chalkstream Fly Fishing in Berkshire

Fishing Breaks offer the widest selection of the very best chalk stream brown trout dry fly and nymph fishing in the county of Berkshire.

Our rivers | Your guide | Places to stay | Fishing advice and flies | Maps

The undulating Lambourn Downs are the chalk hills that feed the lovely streams of Berkshire. The rivers Lambourn, Loddon, Kennet and Pang are best known for the clear, cold water which is typical of these rivers, creating the ideal spawning conditions for wild trout and grayling.

Fishing Breaks has three beats on the two main rivers; Benham Estate and Barton Court on the River Kennet and Donnington Grove on the River Lambourn. The latter is a great stream for wading and sight fishing, whilst the other two offer a huge variety of main river, side streams and carriers to truly lose yourself in.

The season on the Lambourn opens in mid-April and at the start of May on the Kennet. Expect a good Hawthorn hatch early on, followed by a stupendous Mayfly hatch and then a mixture of olives, sedges and terrestrials later in the year.

All the beats are convenient to the M4 or an hour from London Paddington by train. The Dundas Arms is within walking distance of Kintbury station and Barton Court.

Our rivers

		River Kennet Barton Court Three miles of carriers, side streams, pools and main river.
		River Kennet Benham Estate Miles of varied fishing to lose yourself in
		River Lambourn Donnington Grove Ideal for wading and stalking in crystal clear water.

Your fishing guide - John Stephens

John caught his first ever trout on the upper stretches of the Avon in Wiltshire. But for many years he has lived amongst the streams of Berkshire and has grown to know them better than any other Guide.

John says of the streams of this royal county, "The river Kennet is rated by many to be as good as the Test and the mayfly hatches can be so heavy that they look like a snowstorm. The Lambourn has the coldest water of any chalkstream in the country and crystal clear, the wild fish grow to about 1lb with a monster at 1lb 1/4 and the flies used can be as small as size 22 – dry fly fishing at its best."

You may read more about John Stephens on the Fishing Guides page. If you wish to pick John’s brain, email him direct at john@fishingbreaks.co.uk All diary and booking enquiries should be made direct to Fishing Breaks.

Places to stay and visit

Top Riverside Pub – The Dundas Arms, Kintbury

Top Country Pub: Crown and Garter, Inkpen

Top Spa Hotel: The Vineyard at Stockcross

Top Gastro Pub: The Yew Tree Inn, Highclere

Top Place Visit: Royal Mausoleum, Windsor

> View the full Fishing Breaks accommodation guide

Fishing advice and flies

In broad terms the fishing season runs from May to September. The Hawthorn hatch generally coincides with the opening week, with the Mayfly running from mid-May to the end of the second week in June. There are no easy pickings in the second half of the season, but small flies, delicately fished are the secret weapons.

Top Berkshire Flies:

April Greenwell’s Glory (16) Hawthorn (14)		May Thomas Mayfly (10)		June Greenwell’s Glory (16) GRHE (16-18)
July Tups Indispensable (14-16) PTN (16-18)		August Spurwing (14-16) GRHE (16-18)		September Pale Water Spinner (16)

Recommended outfit: 7.5-8.5ft rod, of 3-5wt. Floating line. Tippet to 2lb/6x. All flies barbless or de-barbed.

Maps

County map ------------- 1 Donnington Grove 2 Barton Court 3 Benham Estate River Lambourn River Kennet River Kennet

County overview

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