Kennet and Avon Canal – Reading Stretch

This Reading Stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal sits near Woolhampton and Brimpton, west of Reading in Berkshire. It runs for roughly a mile, from Cramwell Bridge to Heales Lock, and is controlled by Reading and District Angling Association.

• 1 lake: Kennet and Avon Canal – Reading Stretch
• Fish: roach, perch, chub, bream, tench, pike
• Tickets from: Day ticket — £6 per day
• Find it: Reading · RG7 5TA

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

This Reading Stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal sits near Woolhampton and Brimpton, west of Reading in Berkshire. It runs for roughly a mile, from Cramwell Bridge to Heales Lock, and is controlled by Reading and District Angling Association.

It’s proper traditional canal fishing rather than a commercial lake job. Roach are the headline target, with perch, chub, bream, tench and pike also present. The reported fish sizes give you a few cheeky bonus chances too — perch to about 2 lb, chub to 4 lb, bream to around 3 lb 8 oz and pike to roughly 10 lb.

For a roach session, maggot, punch bread and hemp are the suggested starting points. Fish light and stay mobile, working the towpath water, margins and any little changes in depth. A small feeder could be worth a go around wider pegs and inlets, especially when the towpath swim gives you a bit more room.

Chub, bream and tench are suggested targets for caster or worm. Perch may fancy red maggot, caster or a small redworm. There’s enough variety to keep things interesting, but this is still best viewed as a classic coarse canal stretch rather than a venue built around big carp or specimen hunting.

Day tickets are reported at £6 and are obtained from local tackle shops. RDAA adult membership is reported at £80, with concessions available for OAPs and juniors through the association. You’ll also need a valid Environment Agency rod licence, and canal access on its own does not give you fishing rights.

Fishing is daytime only, with night fishing not permitted. The statutory traditional close season applies, so the canal is closed from 15 March through 15 June inclusive and available from 16 June through 14 March, subject to permits and local rules. Check the signs before settling into a swim.

Access is associated with the canal towpath and nearby road parking, but there are no listed on-site facilities, toilets, café or tackle shop. Take care on the bank, as uneven, slippery, undercut and flooded sections are flagged. Keep dogs under control, clear up after them, and respect property, wildlife and the environment.

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 cracking mile of coarse canal west of Reading, running from Cramwell Bridge to Heales Lock. It’s RDAA-controlled, day-ticket fishing with roach as the main draw, plus perch, chub, bream, tench and pike.”

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.