RiverFish

Stone loach · Barbatula barbatula

Stone loach in the Main River Exe

Largest measured stone loach: 12 cm

The largest stone loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Main River Exe was 12 cm, recorded at Downstream Tiverton S.T.W. (Dip) on 16 September 2022.

Across 250 measured stone loach, the median measured length was 7.2 cm.

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

See stone loach records across England →

Most recent observation31 July 2025Hantons at Exford (Te) · 11 fish
Largest measured stone loach
12 cm
Median length
7.2 cm
Fish measured
250
Survey locations
29

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured stone loach

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
12 cm16 Sept 2022Downstream Tiverton S.T.W. (Dip)161465
11.8 cm5 Aug 2019Kemps Valley (Te/WFD)154977
11.5 cm6 Aug 2019Hantons at Exford (Te)155374
11.5 cm16 Aug 2017Hantons at Exford (Te)151407
11.5 cm25 Aug 2016Westermill Farm (Te)149058
11.5 cm4 Aug 2016Coppleham Bridge (Te)148826
11.3 cm4 Aug 2016Coppleham Bridge (Te)148826
11.2 cm6 Aug 2019Hantons at Exford (Te)155374
11.2 cm6 Aug 2019Hantons at Exford (Te)155374
11.1 cm18 Sept 2018Westermill Farm (Te)153602

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

Explore the river

Where stone loach were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one stone 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 stone loach
Hantons at Exford (Te)30 Jun 199831 Jul 202516
Westermill Farm (Te)29 Jun 19985 Sept 202416
Coppleham Bridge (Te)10 Jul 19985 Sept 202414
Downstream Nethercote Br (Te)23 Aug 200228 Aug 20246
Kemps Valley (Te/WFD)6 Jul 199810 Aug 202313
Downstream Tiverton S.T.W. (Dip)10 Sept 201516 Sept 20222
Upstream Iron Bridge (Dip)28 Aug 200912 Sept 20223
Up Exe (Dip)16 Aug 200412 Sept 20225
Downstream Tiverton Town (Dip)28 Aug 200912 Sept 20223
Upstream Highleigh Fish Farm (Dip)26 Aug 20098 Sept 20223
Upstream Chain Bridge (Dip)11 Aug 20048 Sept 20224
Oakford Bridge (Dip)26 Aug 20098 Sept 20223
Downstream Stuckeridge Bridge (Dip)11 Aug 20048 Sept 20224
Downstream Blackpool Downstream Gauging weir (Dip)1 Jul 20057 Sept 20228
Lyncombe Farm (Sp)30 Jun 199826 Aug 20224
Upstream Barle/Exe Confluence (Dip)27 Aug 200922 Aug 20223
Downstream Exebridge Bridge (Dip)30 Sept 200415 Aug 20228
Hone Farm (Sp)10 Jul 199812 Aug 20224
Chilly Bridge (Sp)8 Jul 199812 Aug 20224
Vicarage Bridge (Sp)3 Jul 19985 Aug 20224
Larcombe Foot (Sp)3 Jul 19985 Aug 20224
Yealscombe (Sp)3 Aug 20042 Aug 20224
Weir Bridge (Sp)29 Jun 19981 Aug 20224
Hele Bridge (Sp)20 Aug 199822 Jul 20225
Upstream Blackpool (Dip)*1 Jul 20059 Aug 20106
100m u/s Halfpenny Bridge (Dip)*9 Aug 20059 Aug 20051
Upstream Intake/Carnarvon Arms (Dip)*10 Aug 200410 Aug 20041
Upstream Highleigh Weir (Dip)*10 Aug 200410 Aug 20041
Hole in the Hedge (Sp)*6 Jul 199829 Jul 20042

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

1998–2025

Survey records by year

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

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 250 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.1 cm
Lower quarter
6 cm
Median
7.2 cm
Upper quarter
8.6 cm
Largest
12 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the Main River Exe

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

Atlantic salmon Brown / sea trout Bullhead Minnow European eel Grayling

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 →