Kennet and Avon Canal – Hungerford Stretch

The Hungerford stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal is a proper bit of canal water in Berkshire, controlled by the Hungerford Canal Angling Association. Just to clear up the easy mix-up: this is the canal stretch, not the separate Hungerford Fishery on the River Kennet and River Dun. Different fishing, different rights, so make sure you’re sorting the right ticket before packing the gear.

• 1 lake: Kennet and Avon Canal – Hungerford Stretch
• Fish: carp, tench, bream, pike, roach, perch
• Find it: Hungerford · RG17 0DN

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

The Hungerford stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal is a proper bit of canal water in Berkshire, controlled by the Hungerford Canal Angling Association. Just to clear up the easy mix-up: this is the canal stretch, not the separate Hungerford Fishery on the River Kennet and River Dun. Different fishing, different rights, so make sure you’re sorting the right ticket before packing the gear.

There’s approximately three miles to explore. The stretch starts upstream of Hungerford near the railway crossing, runs through Hungerford town and finishes east of Dunmere Lock. It also passes Hungerford Lock and Hungerford Marsh Lock, so there’s a fair amount of water to get your head around. On a new canal, it pays to have a wander first, spot likely features and look for signs of fish before chucking in straight away.

This is listed as season-ticket fishing, with an all-year season. There’s no published day-ticket price or season-ticket price in the available details, and no public online booking system is listed either. Best move is to contact the Hungerford Canal Angling Association before travelling and ask exactly what the current ticket covers, where it can be obtained and whether there are any updates for the stretch you want to fish.

The reported species list is nicely mixed. Carp are said to reach approximately 25 lb, with tench and bream to around 6 lb. Roach reportedly go to roughly 2 lb and perch to about 3 lb, while pike add a proper predator option. That gives you plenty of ways to fish it, from a quiet float session in the margins to a more focused carp or pike approach. Keep the kit adaptable until you’ve seen the water and spoken to whoever manages the fishing.

The main confirmed restriction is a two-rod limit. The towpath is used by walkers and local residents, so keep everything compact, tidy and well out of the way. Don’t spread rods, bags or bait across the path. A sensible barrow-free setup, a landing net, unhooking kit and just the tackle you need will make the session easier and keep things bob on for other users.

A few important bits still need checking before a specialist session. Permission for night fishing, bait boats and boat fishing isn’t stated, and neither are the keepnet rules or hook restrictions. Ask about those before planning an overnighter, predator trip or big-bait campaign. The canal location is near RG17 0DN, and the key thing is remembering that these canal fishing rights are separate from the Town and Manor’s river fishery. Get the ticket and rules nailed down first, then enjoy a proper explore of the Hungerford water.

We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

Videos linked by the fishery

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “A proper three-mile canal stretch through Hungerford, controlled by Hungerford Canal Angling Association and offering season-ticket fishing all year. Expect a mixed bag with carp, tench, bream, pike, roach and perch, but check the permit details before making plans.”

This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.