Direct individual measurements
Largest rainbow trout 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 | River HullYorkshire and North East | 72.8 cm (28.7 in) | 29.5 cm (11.6 in) | 94 | 13 Oct 2005Whinhill, West Beck. 2002HULL/WR1 |
| 2 | River TestSouth East | 71 cm (28 in) | 60 cm (23.6 in) | 11 | 8 Jul 2004Longparish, Southside Farm |
| 3 | River ChurnetMidlands | 56.5 cm (22.2 in) | 18.4 cm (7.2 in) | 30 | 1 Jul 1998Westwood Golf Course |
| 4 | River VerSouth East | 56.4 cm (22.2 in) | 53.5 cm (21.1 in) | 2 | 20 May 2004Verulam Golf Course |
| 5 | River Lymn FMUAnglian | 54.6 cm (21.5 in) | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 6 | 2 Mar 1993Stockwith Mill |
| 6 | River NarAnglian | 54.3 cm (21.4 in) | 24.3 cm (9.6 in) | 51 | 31 Jan 1996Narford Hall Estate |
| 7 | Pebmarsh BrookAnglian | 53.3 cm (21 in) | 52.5 cm (20.7 in) | 3 | 19 Feb 2003Overshot Mill |
| 8 | River WyeMidlands | 52.5 cm (20.7 in) | 23.6 cm (9.3 in) | 605 | 10 Aug 2010Millers Dale |
| 9 | River DerwentMidlands | 52 cm (20.5 in) | 36 cm (14.2 in) | 94 | 13 Sept 2018Hathersage |
| 10 | River LoddonSouth East | 51.9 cm (20.4 in) | 40.5 cm (15.9 in) | 68 | 8 Nov 2001Lilly Mill |
Equal maximum lengths are ordered by sample size. Measurements are shown as recorded and are not converted into estimated weights.
4,090 fish measured
Measured rainbow trout lengths
The median divides the measured sample in half. This distribution describes surveyed fish, not every rainbow trout living in England.
Only positive individual lengths that pass RiverFish's general measurement checks are included. Each bar covers a 20 mm range.
Latest EA evidence
Latest rainbow trout observations
The ten most recent survey visits that recorded rainbow trout in named waterways.
| Date | River or waterway | Survey location | Fish recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 2026 | River Misbourne | Downstream of Shardeloes Lake | 1 |
| 22 Sept 2025 | River Main Somerset Frome | Tellisford (Te06) | 1 |
| 28 Aug 2025 | River Wye | Millers Dale | 12 |
| 20 Aug 2025 | River Rye salmon riffles | Riffle at Ness Cottages powerlines | 1 |
| 19 Aug 2025 | River Main Barnstaple Yeo | New Mills (Sp/WFD) | 1 |
| 24 Jun 2025 | River Piddle | Southover Farm | 1 |
| 27 May 2025 | River Blythe | Molands Bridge | 1 |
| 8 May 2025 | Aylesford Stream | Quarrington Farm | 1 |
| 8 Oct 2024 | River Kennet | Half Water - Eel | 2 |
| 1 Oct 2024 | River Kennet | Parliament Draft - Eel | 1 |
A survey record confirms rainbow trout at that place and time. It does not show present-day abundance or fishing access.
809 positive survey visits
Survey distribution
EA surveys recorded rainbow trout at 438 locations across 220 named waterways represented on RiverFish.
| Region | Waterways | Locations | Survey visits | Latest record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | 60 | 114 | 192 | 22 Sept 2025 |
| South East | 38 | 71 | 148 | 5 May 2026 |
| Yorkshire and North East | 37 | 92 | 184 | 20 Aug 2025 |
| Midlands | 35 | 63 | 128 | 28 Aug 2025 |
| Anglian | 33 | 71 | 118 | 17 May 2024 |
| North West | 17 | 27 | 39 | 21 Oct 2013 |
64 detailed pages
Rainbow trout by river
Open any river-specific page for its measured lengths, largest surveyed individuals, locations and observation history.
Anglian 12 pages
Midlands 9 pages
South East 12 pages
South West 15 pages
Yorkshire and North East 14 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 rainbow trout.
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 →