This week the Wilde Trout guides and I spent two days on location filming across a beautiful new estate on the River Kennet, one of Britain’s most famous chalkstreams and a river we’re thrilled to be adding to the Wilde Trout portfolio. The estate offers around five miles of fishing, taking in classic Kennet water, deep glides, gravel runs and overhanging willows, with a real mix of wild brown trout fishing throughout.
The footage we captured over the two days will form the basis of a proper introduction to the estate over the coming weeks, but even standing on the bank filming, it was hard not to be distracted by fish rising steadily in the afternoon sun. It’s a genuinely special piece of water, and we think it’s going to become a firm favourite for chalkstream fly fishing among our guests.
With five miles of River Kennet now part of our portfolio, this is a significant addition for anyone looking to explore beyond the Test and Itchen. The estate takes in a real variety of water along its length, from faster, more technical runs to slower, weed lined glides, giving plenty of scope for both dry fly and nymphing tactics depending on conditions.
We’ll be sharing a full beat guide once the footage and photography are ready, but for anyone already familiar with the Kennet’s reputation for strong hatches and generous fish stocks, this addition speaks for itself.
Both day rod access and fully guided packages on the new Kennet estate will be available from next year, and we’ll be opening bookings well ahead of the 2027 season so regular guests get first refusal on the best dates. If you fish the Test and Itchen with us already and fancy adding a new chalkstream to your season, keep an eye on future newsletters for booking details.
In the meantime, if you’d like to register your interest ahead of general release, do drop the office a line and we’ll make sure you’re among the first to hear when dates go live.
That’s all from me this week, thoroughly looking forward to introducing you all to the Kennet properly very soon.
Wishing you the very best of luck and the tightest of lines if you’re beside the river in the next few days.
Best wishes,
Jamie Hayes-Pankhurst
Founder & Managing Director
Dreaming of a burbling chalkstream brimming with frenzied brown trout slurping in the gunsmoke of an electric fly hatch? Your next adventure starts here!
