RiverFish

3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in the Lincolnshire Lakes

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback: 9.8 cm

The largest 3-spined stickleback measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Lincolnshire Lakes was 9.8 cm, recorded at Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake on 16 March 1998.

Across 823 measured 3-spined stickleback, the median measured length was 4.3 cm.

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

See 3-spined stickleback records across England →

Most recent observation23 January 2003Bleasby House Lake · 3,000 fish
Largest measured 3-spined stickleback
9.8 cm
Median length
4.3 cm
Fish measured
823
Survey locations
16

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
9.8 cm16 Mar 1998Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake69492
8.7 cm30 Sept 1986Hoe Hill Lake69375
8.4 cm30 Sept 1986Hoe Hill Lake69375
7.9 cm30 Sept 1986Hoe Hill Lake69375
7.8 cm30 Sept 1986Hoe Hill Lake69375
7.3 cm16 Mar 1998Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake69492
7.3 cm16 Mar 1998Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake69492
7.2 cm16 Mar 1998Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake69492
7.2 cm16 Mar 1998Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake69492
7.1 cm16 Mar 1998Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake69492

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

Explore the river

Where 3-spined stickleback were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one 3-spined stickleback 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 3-spined stickleback
Bleasby House Lake23 Jan 200323 Jan 20031
Bullrushes Tetney12 Dec 200212 Dec 20021
Whisby Dragonfly - West Lake15 Jan 199915 Jan 19991
Mill Road Lakes Horseshoe Lake16 Mar 199816 Mar 19981
Mill Road Lakes Oblong Lake23 Feb 199823 Feb 19981
Louth Canal Refuge21 Jan 199821 Jan 19981
Forty Foot Refuge22 Jan 199722 Jan 19971
Aylesby 25 Lake North Thoresby26 Jan 199526 Jan 19951
Grainthorpe Estates Lake19 Jan 199419 Jan 19941
Heapham Reservoir1 Nov 19931 Nov 19931
North Thoresby Lake Site 4 (Northray A.C.)20 Mar 199020 Mar 19901
Poplar Farm Reservoir15 Oct 198611 Jan 19902
S.C.M. Chemicals Lake27 Feb 198927 Feb 19891
Wootton Duck Pond7 Dec 19877 Dec 19871
Hoe Hill Lake30 Sept 198630 Sept 19861
Manor Fishing Lake24 Sept 198624 Sept 19861

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

1986–2003

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded 3-spined stickleback that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 823 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
1.1 cm
Lower quarter
2.7 cm
Median
4.3 cm
Upper quarter
5.4 cm
Largest
9.8 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the Lincolnshire Lakes

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

Roach Perch Rudd Common carp 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 →