RiverFish

Spined loach · Cobitis taenia

Spined loach in the Counter Drain

Largest measured spined loach: 9 cm

The largest spined loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Counter Drain was 9 cm, recorded at Welney on 15 May 2007.

Across 405 measured spined loach, the median measured length was 5 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 spined loach records across England →

Most recent observation9 May 2019SLS Control 2 · 10 fish
Largest measured spined loach
9 cm
Median length
5 cm
Fish measured
405
Survey locations
17

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured spined loach

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
9 cm15 May 2007Welney109027
9 cm22 Apr 2004Welney79697
8.5 cm15 May 2007Welney109027
8.5 cm25 Mar 2003Vandervells Lake75797
8.3 cm28 Sept 2018SLS Control 2154447
8.2 cm28 Sept 2018SLS Control 2154447
8 cm12 Apr 2017Vandervells Lake150369
8 cm15 May 2007Welney109027
8 cm15 May 2007Welney109027
8 cm27 Apr 2003Salters Lode75799

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

Explore the river

Where spined loach were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one spined loach 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 surveyedFirst recordedLast recordedVisits finding spined loach
SLS Weed cut 311 Oct 20189 May 20192
SLS Weed cut 211 Oct 20189 May 20192
SLS Weed cut 111 Oct 20189 May 20192
SLS De-silt 326 Sept 20189 May 20192
SLS De-silt 126 Sept 20189 May 20192
SLS Control 228 Sept 20189 May 20192
SLS Weed rake 326 Sept 20181 May 20192
SLS Weed rake 226 Sept 20181 May 20192
SLS Weed rake 126 Sept 20181 May 20192
SLS De-silt 226 Sept 20181 May 20192
SLS Control 128 Sept 20181 May 20192
Vandervells Lake15 Apr 199312 Apr 20178
Mepal4 Apr 20035 Apr 20174
Salters Lode27 Apr 200328 Mar 20145
Welney3 Apr 200313 Apr 20114
Welches2 Apr 20038 Apr 20114
DS Welney26 Mar 200326 Mar 20031

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

1993–2019

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded spined loach that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 405 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.4 cm
Lower quarter
3.9 cm
Median
5 cm
Upper quarter
5.8 cm
Largest
9 cm

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.

Perch Pike Roach 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 →