Speen Moors – River Kennet

River level

The lowdown

• This isn’t a manicured commercial fishery. It’s a natural chalk-river setting with different channels, depths and characters — cracking if you like a bit of exploring.
• Some sections are overgrown, with fallen trees and stretches that are currently hard to reach. The owners have been looking at improvements since 2022, but priorities are still being discussed.
• Parliament Draught is reached through a locked gate on the western side, towards the A34. Make sure you’ve got the right access sorted before setting off.
• There’s also a weirpool beside the public path to the south-west. Worth walking the water first and studying the club map — the club specifically advises this.
• The river holds chub, perch, roach, dace, bream, pike and brown trout. All river methods are described as capable of catching fish, so there’s room for trotting, feeder work and more mobile approaches.
• Keep an eye on legered baits. Crayfish can be a proper nuisance and may nick your bait before the fish get a look in.
• Access can be a bit of a faff. Parking near the railway bridge in Bone Mill Lane is unsecured, then it’s roughly a 10-minute walk to the fishery.
• The alternative track starts at the A34/B4100 roundabout and runs alongside and under the A34 before continuing as an untarmacked road to the river. Expect mud, and the A4 route under the bypass can sometimes flood.
• The permitted path can be busy with Sunday walkers. Anyone walking the fishing water without an NAA permit is out of bounds, so keep your paperwork bob on.

Methods: All river fishing methods are described as capable of catching fish here. Trotting, feeder fishing and other sensible river approaches can all come into play, with the crease, cover and varied depths worth working out on the day.

Access & tickets

This is Newbury Angling Association water and is members-only apart from association guest arrangements. Access needs an NAA venue key; membership runs from 16 June to 15 June.

Fish the club names

chub, perch, roach, bream, pike, trout

Key rules

• Newbury Angling Association has no ordinary day tickets; fishing is normally available through club membership.
• Members may bring one guest per day using a guest ticket.
• A current Environment Agency rod licence is required where applicable.
• Two rods are permitted on Speen Moors only when the angler holds a two-rod permit.
• Walkers without an NAA permit are out of bounds on the fishing water.
• The club advises anglers to walk the water and study the map before fishing.

Where it is