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River Kennet — Bulls Lock

Plan a session

Bulls Lock is a small, beautiful, tree-lined members-only stretch on the River Kennet, just downstream of Newbury. CALPAC runs the fishery, with access from Hambridge Lane and the Kennet and Avon Canal meeting the river right by the lock.

Run by Central Association London Provincial Angling Clubs (CALPAC) · checked 16 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Newbury gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

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We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open Newbury on Live River Levels

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The lowdown

  • This is a compact little Kennet fishery with plenty of character. CALPAC describes it as small but beautiful, and the tree-lined setting sounds proper pleasant.
  • The stretch starts after you cross the swing bridge from the Hambridge Lane access. Turn right and follow the fishery along to the footbridge.
  • Access is off the B3421 via Hambridge Lane. Parking is in the designated laybys shown on CALPAC’s access map, so don’t just abandon the motor wherever it suits.
  • Bulls Lock is where the nearby Kennet and Avon Canal meets the River Kennet. That makes sticking to the river itself especially important — CALPAC says not to fish the canal.
  • The water sits in the Newbury–Thatcham section of the waterway, with Thatcham/Newbury the nearest mapped village area.
  • CALPAC names barbel, chub, roach, perch, pike, brown trout and grayling across its waters. A tidy mix, with proper river options rather than a one-trick puddle.
  • This is a season-ticket style fishery, not a day-ticket water. It’s members only, so sort the CALPAC arrangements before turning up with the gear.
  • Fishing follows CALPAC’s general fishing-times schedule: from sunrise until one hour after sunset. The closed season runs from 15 March to 15 June.
  • The separate listing gives a maximum of two rods, no night fishing and barbless or microbarbed hooks only. It also reports no keepnets, with extra restrictions on carp sacks and keepnets.
  • We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: The facts don’t set out a specific method, but this sort of members-only river stretch is suited to careful river angling within the fishery rules. Keep things tidy, respect the trees and stay on the River Kennet rather than wandering onto the canal.

Access & tickets

CALPAC membership / season ticket

Members-only season-ticket fishery; separate angling listing identifies it as a season-ticket water rather than a day-ticket fishery.

Day tickets must be booked in advance through CALPAC’s Clubmate booking system. Members can fish under CALPAC membership access.

Fish the club names

barbel, chub, roach, pike, perch, trout, chub

Named by Central Association London Provincial Angling Clubs (CALPAC) across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

  • Fishing is permitted from sunrise to one hour after sunset.
  • Closed season from 15 March to 15 June.
  • Do not fish the canal.
  • Maximum of two rods.
  • Barbless or microbarbed hooks only.
  • No keepnets.
  • Carp must not be placed in keepnets or carp sacks.
  • No tins, glass bottles or radios.

Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

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