Fishing at Donnington Grove

Mayfly Madness on the River Lambourn

It is about this time of year that every fly fishermen starts to twitch; the days are getting warmer, the evenings are lighter later and just around the corner is the famous Mayfly period, more commonly known as ‘Duffers Fortnight’. Why ‘Duffers Fortnight’ you may well ask. Well, the answer is that the fishing is said to be so easy that any old duffer will catch a sackful of trout! This is a magical time of year to fish the beautiful River Lambourn that weaves its way through the Donnington Grove Country Club. This is a famous Berkshire chalkstream that is renowned for some of the best dry fly brown trout fishing in southern England. The water is gin-clear, with a good head of wild fish that are supplemented by careful stocking throughout the season.

Over the past four years the Donnington Grove Country Club has embarked on an extensive programme of restoration and conservation to create the perfect river for fly fishing enthusiasts. The banks have been re-aligned, the overhanging trees removed and flow deflectors built in the river to improve the habitat for the trout and grayling. The result is an explosion in the wild trout population and a much better fishing river for the angler. Such is the success of the scheme that Donnington has fishermen who return every year, with regulars making three of four visits in a season.

The fishing is available by the day for one or two fishermen. The beats is over 1000 yards long, double bank the whole way with a great variety of runs, riffles and pools.. For more information or to book on-line click http://www.fishingbreaks.co.uk/chalkstream/lambourn.htm#donnington Our resident Fishing Guide, John Stephens, is available for private or group tuition on request.