Roach · Rutilus rutilus

Roach in the Counter Drain

Largest measured roach: 26.4 cm

The largest roach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Counter Drain was 26.4 cm, recorded at Salters Lode on 25 April 2017.

Across 12,074 measured roach, the median measured length was 8.8 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 roach records across England →

Most recent observation10 June 2026Welney · 7 fish

Largest measured roach: 26.4 cm
Median length: 8.8 cm
Fish measured: 12,074
Survey locations: 9

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured roach

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
26.4 cm	25 Apr 2017	Salters Lode	150367
25.3 cm	22 Apr 1993	Salters Lode	29639
24.8 cm	20 May 1997	Welney	29646
24.5 cm	27 Mar 2014	Welney	140572
23.8 cm	24 Mar 1988	Sutton Gault	29624
23.8 cm	24 Mar 1988	Sutton Gault	29624
23.8 cm	24 Mar 1988	Sutton Gault	29624
23.3 cm	25 Apr 2017	Salters Lode	150367
23.3 cm	22 Apr 1993	Salters Lode	29639
23.3 cm	24 Mar 1988	Sutton Gault	29624

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

Explore the river

Where roach were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one roach 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 roach
Welney	20 Apr 1988	10 Jun 2026	11
Vandervells Lake	15 Apr 1993	11 Mar 2026	9
Mepal	25 Mar 1988	5 Mar 2026	11
Salters Lode	22 Apr 1988	22 Mar 2023	10
Welches	28 Mar 1988	11 Apr 2017	9
Sutton Gault	24 Mar 1988	3 Apr 2014	4
DS Welney	21 Apr 1988	16 May 2008	5
Jolly Bankers	23 Mar 1988	23 Mar 1988	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 roach that year.

888

089

090

091

092

793

094

095

096

797

098

099

000

001

002

503

604

005

006

007

608

009

010

511

012

013

614

015

016

517

018

019

020

021

022

323

024

025

326

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 12,074 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest: 2.8 cm
Lower quarter: 7.4 cm
Median: 8.8 cm
Upper quarter: 11.3 cm
Largest: 26.4 cm

0–99 mm

7880

100–199 mm

4134

200–299 mm

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 Common bream Tench European eel

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 →