| The River Kennet has been famous for trout fishing since the late nineteenth century. This form of fishing uses a 'dry-fly', which imitates a real insect or larva. Fishermen skilfully cast these onto the surface of the water to fool the fish into rising to catch it. The abundance of trout is directly linked to the quality and quantity of water in the river. A healthy chalk stream has clear, fast flowing water, with healthy ranunculus (weed) growth. The environment must also support plentiful hatches of appropriate flies for the fish to eat. Fishing on the River Kennet is organised by a number of fishing syndicates. These groups contribute the cost of employing river keepers to manage the river, keep the banks passable and allow light to reach the river bed. To find out more about opportunities for fishing on the river, contact the Salmon and Trout Association, the Kennet Valley Fishing Association or the Marlborough College Summer School. | 
