RiverFish

Stone loach · Barbatula barbatula

Stone loach in the River Aire

Largest measured stone loach: 11.5 cm

The largest stone loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Aire was 11.5 cm, recorded at Swillington Bridge on 12 July 2004.

Across 885 measured stone loach, the median measured length was 7.4 cm.

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

See stone loach records across England →

Most recent observation1 July 2026Crossflatts
Largest measured stone loach
11.5 cm
Median length
7.4 cm
Fish measured
885
Survey locations
33

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
11.5 cm12 Jul 2004Swillington Bridge83569
11.3 cm5 Sept 2014Newfield Hall Bridge142719
11.2 cm15 Jul 2004Hirstwood, u/s Bradford Beck83571
10.7 cm12 Jul 2005Swillington Bridge85140
10.5 cm7 Aug 2007Hirstwood, u/s Bradford Beck108126
10.4 cm9 Jul 2007Thwaite Weir108172
10.4 cm19 Jul 2005Kirkstall (400m d/s weir)87553
10.4 cm12 Jul 2005Swillington Bridge85140
10.4 cm14 Sept 2004Castleford83578
10.4 cm12 Jul 2004Swillington Bridge83569

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
Crossflatts18 Aug 19981 Jul 202613
Hirstwood, u/s Bradford Beck26 May 199830 Jun 202614
Rodley20 Jul 200629 Jun 20263
Kirkstall Abbey29 Jun 202629 Jun 20261
Thwaite Mill fry Survey14 Aug 201320 Aug 20256
Carleton Bridge20 Aug 199824 Jul 201712
Coniston Estate - US Gill Syke27 Oct 201527 Oct 20151
Coniston Estate - DS Gill Syke27 Oct 201527 Oct 20151
Newfield Hall Bridge5 Sept 20145 Sept 20141
Bell Busk22 Aug 20075 Sept 20143
Gargrave Stepping Stones13 Aug 200214 Aug 20143
Upstream Esholt STW2 Jul 20142 Jul 20141
Swillington Bridge19 Aug 19982 Jul 20149
Apperley Bridge18 Jul 20131 Jul 20142
Silsden Bridge18 Aug 199826 Jun 201410
Thwaite Weir25 Aug 19985 Jul 20109
Castleford19 Aug 19981 Jul 20107
Kirkstall (400m d/s weir)27 Aug 199822 Jun 201010
Cononley, below Snaygill STW27 Aug 199823 Sept 20077
Newlay lower weir19 Jul 200519 Jul 20051
Keighley (River Worth Confluence) - Fry Survey21 Sept 198425 Sept 200314
Carleton Bridge - Fry Survey24 Sept 199225 Sept 200310
Thwaite Weir (Gill Net)21 Aug 200221 Aug 20021
Kirkstall (400 metre d/s) (Gill Net)20 Aug 200220 Aug 20021
Coniston Cold u/s A65 Bridge13 Aug 200213 Aug 20021
Bingley Downstream A65030 Jul 200230 Jul 20021
Kildwick Bridge25 Jul 200225 Jul 20021
Esholt STW26 Aug 199820 Jul 20022
Chapel Haddelsey - Fry Survey20 Sept 200120 Sept 20011
Gargrave STW20 Aug 199820 Aug 19981
Carleton Bridge Upstream20 Aug 199820 Aug 19981
Kildwick - Fry Survey24 Sept 199224 Sept 19921
Knostrop - Fry Survey26 Sept 198826 Sept 19881

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

1984–2026

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 885 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
1.4 cm
Lower quarter
4.7 cm
Median
7.4 cm
Upper quarter
8.3 cm
Largest
11.5 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Aire

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

Minnow Chub Gudgeon Bullhead Brown / sea trout 3-spined stickleback

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 →