RiverFish

3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in the River Arrow

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback: 6.9 cm

The largest 3-spined stickleback measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Arrow was 6.9 cm, recorded at Washford on 22 May 1997.

Across 120 measured 3-spined stickleback, the median measured length was 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 Arrow.

See 3-spined stickleback records across England →

Most recent observation20 May 2025Ipsley
Largest measured 3-spined stickleback
6.9 cm
Median length
4 cm
Fish measured
120
Survey locations
18

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
6.9 cm22 May 1997Washford81906
6.8 cm22 May 1997Washford81906
6.6 cm11 Jun 1997Upstream WRW, Lodge Farm, Alvechurch74835
6.2 cm22 Aug 1996Upstream WRW, Lodge Farm, Alvechurch81905
6 cm22 Aug 1996Upstream WRW, Lodge Farm, Alvechurch81905
6 cm22 Aug 1996Upstream WRW, Lodge Farm, Alvechurch81905
6 cm9 Jul 1991Old Birmingham Rd. Alvechurch52201
5.9 cm10 Jul 1991Washford52232
5.8 cm14 Aug 1996Washford site 8 (d/s end of site)78923
5.7 cm10 Jul 1991Arrow Valley Park,50 u/s and d/s Batchley Brook co52205

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
Ipsley14 Aug 198020 May 20256
Alcester playing fields16 Sept 198617 May 20229
Spernal d/s WRW23 Aug 198928 May 20195
Salford Priors17 Oct 199628 May 20195
Arrow Valley Park4 Aug 20167 Aug 20182
Coughton Ford23 Aug 198923 Jul 20032
Studley17 Sept 198610 Jul 20034
Old Birmingham Rd. Alvechurch9 Jul 199122 Aug 19982
Upstream WRW, Lodge Farm, Alvechurch9 Jul 199111 Jun 19973
Washford17 Sept 198622 May 19974
d/s WRW Cocot House, Grange Lane, Alvechurch9 Jul 199122 Aug 19962
Arrow Valley Park,50 u/s and d/s Batchley Brook co10 Jul 199122 Aug 19962
Washford site 8 (u/s end of site)14 Aug 199614 Aug 19961
Washford site 8 (d/s end of site)14 Aug 199614 Aug 19961
Ipsley d/s Arrow Valley Lake10 Jul 199114 Aug 19962
Wixford18 Jul 199118 Jul 19952
d/s outfall Oversley Green Works17 Jul 199117 Jul 19911
Arrow Valley Park,50m d/s Batchley Brook confl10 Jul 199110 Jul 19911

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

1980–2025

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 120 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
1.5 cm
Lower quarter
3 cm
Median
4 cm
Upper quarter
5.1 cm
Largest
6.9 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Arrow

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

Minnow Roach Chub Stone loach European eel 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 →