RiverFish

Stone loach · Barbatula barbatula

Stone loach in the Main river sites

Largest measured stone loach: 10.6 cm

The largest stone loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the Main river sites was 10.6 cm, recorded at S1 Gillingham on 14 June 2016.

Across 17 measured stone loach, the median measured length was 7.6 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 sites.

See stone loach records across England →

Most recent observation18 September 2025Canford School (top site S2S) · 8 fish
Largest measured stone loach
10.6 cm
Median length
7.6 cm
Fish measured
17
Survey locations
40

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
10.6 cm14 Jun 2016S1 Gillingham148351
9.8 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487
9.5 cm7 Jun 2007S4R Dudsbury to Merritown105485
8.6 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254
8.4 cm7 Jun 2011S2 Upstream Eccliffe126487
7.9 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254
7.7 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254
7.7 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254
7.6 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254
7.5 cm17 May 2016S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford148254

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
Throop d/s Glens Weir11 Sept 200918 Sept 20256
Muscliffe- Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre17 Sept 201918 Sept 20256
Longham Bridge21 Nov 200318 Sept 20258
Kinson8 Sept 200318 Sept 20259
Cowgrove Weir17 Sept 200318 Sept 202511
Canford School (top site S2S)11 Sept 200318 Sept 20259
d/s Blandford Weir12 Sept 200716 Sept 20258
Sturminster Marshall Island16 Sept 201916 Sept 20255
Durweston Downstream of footbridge16 Sept 201916 Sept 20256
Crawford Bridge17 Sept 200316 Sept 202510
Court Farm10 Sept 201216 Sept 20256
Charlton Marshall Island16 Sept 201916 Sept 20256
Keyneston Mill15 Aug 201218 Sept 20246
Upstream Haywards Bridge16 Sept 201918 Sept 20234
S1 Gillingham17 Jul 20028 Jun 202313
Blandford - Stour Meadow13 Jun 201827 Jul 20223
Stour at Millmore Farm1 Aug 20191 Aug 20191
S2 Upstream Eccliffe8 Aug 20026 Jun 201911
S7 Durweston2 Jun 201530 May 20195
S5 Strangeways5 Aug 200223 May 201912
S3R Corfe Mullen to Cowgrove22 Jun 200427 Jun 20185
S2R Stourpaine to Bryanston13 Jul 200431 May 20183
Canford Mill Stream31 May 201230 May 20182
S1R Fiddleford to Child Okeford12 May 200517 May 20188
S6 Child okeford6 Jun 20139 Jun 20152
Muscliffe8 Sept 200310 Sept 20124
Throop21 Oct 20035 Sept 20123
Sturminster Marshall lay-by5 Sept 20125 Sept 20121
U/s Whitemill Bridge26 Sept 200515 Aug 20122
Spetisbury Ford8 Sept 200315 Aug 20122
The Ship Inn2 Jun 200524 Aug 20103
Throop u/s Glens Weir11 Sept 200911 Sept 20091
Throop d/s gauging Weir11 Sept 200911 Sept 20091
S4 St Mary's Marnhull24 Jul 200211 Jun 20094
S4R Dudsbury to Merritown17 Jun 200422 May 20083
S3 Riversdale Farm7 Jun 20067 Jun 20061
Canford School (Bottom Site S3S)11 Sept 200311 Oct 20052
A347 Road Bridge8 Sept 200311 Oct 20052
Ham Carpark23 Sept 200523 Sept 20051
Kinson Manor Farm (Dudsbury)8 Sept 20038 Sept 20031

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

2002–2025

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 17 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
5.4 cm
Lower quarter
6.5 cm
Median
7.6 cm
Upper quarter
8.4 cm
Largest
10.6 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the Main river sites

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

Minnow Bullhead European eel Dace Chub Gudgeon

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 →