Chalk stream Fishing

River Kennet

The River Kennet rises west of Avebury and travels eastwards through Marlborough and out of Wiltshire into Berkshire towards Newbury. The Kennet's principal tributaries are the River Lambourn, the River Enborne and the Foudry Brook. Though it is only 22 miles from the source to Newbury, there are more than 80 miles of fishable water due to the veritable maze of carriers created by the 18th-century water engineers.

In its heyday, between the wars, Kennet fishermen considered their river superior to the River Test and it is true that the Kennet around Kintbury gets a mayfly hatch as every bit as good and dense as the Test.

This Wiltshire/Berkshire river features heavily in fly fishing literature: Halford had a lease on a considerable length of water in the late 1800’s, John Waller Hills fished it regularly and often wrote about the native Kennet trout, known as the ‘greenback’, now a much sought-after rarity. Frank Sawyer, inventor of the Pheasant Tail Nymph, ran his summer school from the grounds of Marlbough College in the 1970s.

BENHAM ESTATEsince 2011

The Benham Estate has by some considerable margin more chalkstream fishing that any other estate in the whole of Berkshire. The Park is a delightful mix of fishing with the larger main river, criss-crossed by a variety of carriers and side streams which all adds up to something in the region of five miles of water. The fishing is mostly from the bank, though on occasion you may be able to wade some of the small stream sections. There is an excellent head of wild fish supplemented by with regular stocking. The full-time river keeper Gary Allen will usually be on hand to greet you and there is a fishing cabin beside the river with parking immediately adjacent.

		No. RODS 1-4 plus Season Rods		COMPARE
No Dogs		2m	2.1m	0.9m
“Superb day and an extremely pretty place to fish”   “Very good water and range of fishing, excellent stocking and range of fish ”    “The whole day exceeded my expectations.”

1-4 Rods NB Thursdays are available on an exclusive basis for parties of 4 Rods or more when there will be no Season Rods.

Season Rod

A Full Rod may fish on any day, except Thursdays, during the season being 1st May to 30th September inclusive. A Half Rod may fish on any one day only per week, except Thursdays, during the season being 1st May to 30th September inclusive.

Click for River Lambourn

For further details, please complete our enquiry form or e-mail info@fishingbreaks.co.uk