Kempston Mill to Kempston Church

River level

The lowdown

• The official club page provides a Kempston map and plan, covering the water between Kempston Mill and Kempston Church.
• It’s a mixed fishery rather than a one-trick venue. Barbel, chub, roach, dace and perch are all named by the club.
• Barbel are found in selected swims, so don’t assume every peg is a barbel swim. The map and plan are the key bits to check before settling in.
• Chub occur throughout the length. That gives you plenty of scope for working likely swims rather than banking everything on one feature.
• The silver fish can show in large quantities. A float approach could be well worth a go when the shoals are on the munch.
• For barbel, a feeder approach is the obvious starting point, especially where the river is pushing and there’s a bit of colour. Keep things tidy and mobile.
• Trotting is a cracking way to look for roach, dace and perch. Cover water, watch the crease, and don’t sit stubbornly in a quiet swim.
• Chub are worth targeting with a careful, low-fuss approach. Work the likely water and keep disturbance down, particularly when the river is clear.
• There’s no confirmed separate day-ticket arrangement for this stretch. Access is through Vauxhall Angling Club membership, and members must carry their club ID card on club waters.

Methods: Try trotting for the silver fish and perch, then switch to feeder tactics when you’re after barbel or chub. Barbel are only noted in selected swims, so use the club’s Kempston map and plan to pick your water.

Access & tickets

Apply for annual Vauxhall Angling Club membership through Clubmate via the club’s membership page. Have a head-and-shoulders photo, your full address and rod-licence number ready.

Fish the club names

barbel, chub, roach, perch

Key rules

• Members must carry their club ID card on club waters.
• Members must hold and show a current EA rod-fishing licence when asked.
• Fish may not be removed from club waters.
• Fish transfer between club waters is prohibited.
• Gaffs are prohibited on club waters.
• Boats, dinghies, lilos and bait boats are prohibited unless sanctioned for maintenance.
• Specimen anglers must use a suitable unhooking mat.
• Keepnets may hold no more than 50 lb of fish; where keepnets are allowed, carp and silver fish must be kept in separate nets.
• Tents are prohibited. Bivvies may not be left unattended for longer than one hour in any 24-hour period.
• Gates must be closed and secured, and litter removed from the swim area.

Where it is