3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in England's Rivers

The largest recorded measurement is 47 cm (18.5 in), from No Name - LIN6X in Long Eau Riffles on 26 September 1996.

Median length: 3.9 cm (1.5 in)
Fish measured: 71,460
Named waterways: 1,710
Latest observation: 30 Jul 2026

Direct individual measurements

Largest 3-spined stickleback by waterway

Ranked by the largest individual measured in EA surveys. The sample size shows how many valid length measurements underpin each waterway's figures.

Rank	River or waterway	Largest	Median	Measured	Measured at
1	Long Eau RifflesAnglian	47 cm (18.5 in)	4.3 cm (1.7 in)	972	26 Sept 1996No Name - LIN6X
2	River Little DonYorkshire and North East	22.7 cm (8.9 in)	3.3 cm (1.3 in)	222	18 Aug 2003Downstream Langsett Reservoir
3	River Main MeavySouth West	18 cm (7.1 in)	4.6 cm (1.8 in)	13	13 Jul 2010Olderwood
4	Great Eau FMUAnglian	15 cm (5.9 in)	5 cm (2 in)	679	28 Apr 1992Gayton Engine
5	River TasAnglian	12.8 cm (5 in)	4 cm (1.6 in)	1,577	11 Apr 2005Downstream Forncett Street
6	River OuseYorkshire and North East	12.8 cm (5 in)	3.6 cm (1.4 in)	62	20 Aug 2015Naburn - Fry Survey
7	River FromeMidlands	10.8 cm (4.3 in)	4.2 cm (1.7 in)	137	16 Mar 1992Miserden
8	River MedwaySouth East	10.7 cm (4.2 in)	3 cm (1.2 in)	54	29 May 2007Hartfield
9	River MedlockNorth West	10.1 cm (4 in)	5.1 cm (2 in)	204	17 Jun 2003Mdme20
10	River CroalNorth West	10 cm (3.9 in)	4.7 cm (1.9 in)	13	1 Jul 2004Crcr05

Equal maximum lengths are ordered by sample size. Measurements are shown as recorded and are not converted into estimated weights.

71,460 fish measured

Measured 3-spined stickleback lengths

The median divides the measured sample in half. This distribution describes surveyed fish, not every 3-spined stickleback living in England.

0–19 mm

998

20–39 mm

35631

40–59 mm

32033

60–79 mm

2714

80–99 mm

100–119 mm

120–139 mm

140–159 mm

160–179 mm

180–199 mm

220–239 mm

460–479 mm

Only positive individual lengths that pass RiverFish's general measurement checks are included. Each bar covers a 20 mm range.

Latest EA evidence

Latest 3-spined stickleback observations

The ten most recent survey visits that recorded 3-spined stickleback in named waterways.

Date	River or waterway	Survey location	Fish recorded
30 Jul 2026	River Quin	Upstream Griggs Bridge	Not supplied
24 Jul 2026	Long Whatton Brook	Long Whatton	Not supplied
23 Jul 2026	River Lee	Amwell Loop	Not supplied
14 Jul 2026	River Stour	Tendring Hall	10
13 Jul 2026	River North Tyne	North Tyne at Falstone Tennis Courts	Not supplied
13 Jul 2026	River North Tyne	North Tyne u/s of Tarset Burn	Not supplied
8 Jul 2026	Erring Burn	Erring Burn	Not supplied
7 Jul 2026	Simon Burn	Simon Burn at Nunwick Estate	Not supplied
7 Jul 2026	River Leen	Bobbers Mill	Not supplied
2 Jul 2026	River Rede	River Rede d/s Otterburn Mill	Not supplied

A survey record confirms 3-spined stickleback at that place and time. It does not show present-day abundance or fishing access.

12,937 positive survey visits

Survey distribution

EA surveys recorded 3-spined stickleback at 5,841 locations across 1,710 named waterways represented on RiverFish.

Region	Waterways	Locations	Survey visits	Latest record
Anglian	374	1,441	3,542	14 Jul 2026
Midlands	322	1,041	2,175	24 Jul 2026
South East	289	961	2,091	30 Jul 2026
North West	276	865	1,766	18 Jun 2026
South West	252	612	1,122	18 Jun 2026
Yorkshire and North East	197	921	2,241	13 Jul 2026

614 detailed pages

3-spined stickleback by river

Open any river-specific page for its measured lengths, largest surveyed individuals, locations and observation history.

Anglian 216 pages

Midlands 113 pages

North West 20 pages

South East 95 pages

South West 81 pages

Yorkshire and North East 89 pages

How to read this page

Survey measurements, not angling records

Environment Agency surveys are designed to monitor fish populations. Their largest measurement is not equivalent to a verified rod-and-line record, and the survey sample does not include every river or every 3-spined stickleback.

Waterway groups with administrative or mixed-river labels are excluded from the headline national totals and rankings. Their eligible river-specific pages remain available in the directory so no published destination is hidden.

The fish records use the Environment Agency source snapshot dated 10 August 2026.

How RiverFish handles the data →