Bleak · Alburnus alburnus

Bleak in the Counter Drain

Largest measured bleak: 16.5 cm

The largest bleak measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Counter Drain was 16.5 cm, recorded at Welney on 27 March 2014.

Across 287 measured bleak, the median measured length was 9.8 cm.

RiverFish uses Environment Agency survey measurements rather than rod-and-line angling records. These figures show fish measured during EA surveys of the Counter Drain.

See bleak records across England →

Most recent observation10 June 2026Welney · 2 fish

Largest measured bleak: 16.5 cm
Median length: 9.8 cm
Fish measured: 287
Survey locations: 8

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured bleak

The largest individual measurements in this river and species dataset. Equal measurements are retained as separate surveyed fish.

Length	Survey date	Survey location	Survey ID
16.5 cm	27 Mar 2014	Welney	140572
15.2 cm	27 Mar 2014	Welney	140572
14.6 cm	27 Mar 2014	Welney	140572
14.5 cm	16 Mar 2023	Welches	162294
14.4 cm	21 Apr 2011	Salters Lode	126131
14.2 cm	21 Apr 2011	Salters Lode	126131
14.1 cm	27 Mar 2014	Welney	140572
14.1 cm	13 Apr 2011	Welney	126086
13.9 cm	28 Mar 2014	Salters Lode	140562
13.9 cm	27 Mar 2014	Welney	140572

Lengths are direct survey measurements. RiverFish does not estimate fish weights from length.

Explore the river

Where bleak were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one bleak record.

Choose a point on the map to see what was recorded there.

Map points are approximate and don’t show fishing access. Check local permissions before visiting.

Place surveyed	First recorded	Last recorded	Visits finding bleak
Welney	20 Apr 1988	10 Jun 2026	10
Salters Lode	22 Apr 1988	31 Mar 2026	7
Welches	16 May 1997	10 Mar 2026	4
Mepal	25 Mar 1988	15 Mar 2023	5
Sutton Gault	24 Mar 1988	3 Apr 2014	2
Vandervells Lake	6 May 2008	6 May 2008	1
DS Welney	21 May 1997	21 May 1997	1
Black Sluice	21 Mar 1988	21 Mar 1988	1

Choose a point or table row to see the location. More survey visits can mean more records, but not necessarily more fish.

1988–2026

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded bleak that year.

588

089

090

091

092

393

094

095

096

397

098

099

000

001

002

103

104

005

006

007

408

009

010

211

012

013

414

015

016

117

018

019

020

021

022

423

024

025

326

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 287 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest: 5.1 cm
Lower quarter: 9.1 cm
Median: 9.8 cm
Upper quarter: 11.4 cm
Largest: 16.5 cm

0–99 mm

158

100–199 mm

129

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the Counter Drain

Compare other species with enough survey and measurement data for a detailed page.

Spined loach Perch Pike Roach Common bream Tench

Before you fish

Good to know

These are past survey records, so the fish present today may be different. Map points are approximate—check local access, permissions and fishing rules before visiting.

Learn how RiverFish uses the data →