Trout Fishing - Fly - River Kennet mixed fishery, Newbury

Spells of rain or showers but much of the rain was light with some drier interludes. The air temperature had dropped markedly over the lasttwo nights and went milder during the day. A stiff breeze had transferred the warmer air into the water -I hoped. The weather might hold into Sunday, although rain was on its way in, sweeping across from the west. I decided to take a chance.

I decided that I would go to the Kennet. A new stretch for me, my new club membership. A renewed interest in fishing had devleoped in the last year and although I had never given it up, I had just gone from day tickets to club membership for the first time in 15 years. Cash flow prevented a major trout syndicate so mixed fishing seemed the best option.

Intended on getting up early and going to the river. Beer the previous night put paid to that, and instead I got to the river at about 10am. Still, it had been cold overnight and there would be no fly life about - at least that's what I told myself. Met another soul at the car park who was doing the same as me. I questioned him about the river - yes there were trout, he had caught them legering the year before. He also confirmed that it had been stocked with the annual top up of brownies.

Being primarily a coarse fishery, the overhanging vegetation was encouraged, but this was a major hindrance to the fluff chucker. Walked the whole stretch twice before seeing a fish that I could cast at. I spotted it but then it went. A blip on the surface. Watched for a few minutes - there it was again. Looked at my box of flies - I woud change the nymph to a dry and decided that a black ethafoam beetle was suitably generic and would be tempting at this early time of year. Worked out where I would get the line in and cast upstream beyond the position of the rise. Eight casts were made before I looked away, and just as I looked back the trout rose and engulfed it. After a short but spirited battle a 15cm brown was landed. The only fish of the day.

Spotted some very large barbel. VERY LARGE! Later on while wading on the gravel riffle at the end of the stretch I watched a hobby (Falco subbuteo) chasing swallows. At least two kingfishers patrolled the stretch. Brilliant! Also spotted small tortoiseshell, brimstone and speckled wood butterflies. A few small olives were floating down the river like tiny yachts.