RiverFish

3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in the River Dearne

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback: 8.1 cm

The largest 3-spined stickleback measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Dearne was 8.1 cm, recorded at Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey on 15 August 2017.

Across 572 measured 3-spined stickleback, the median measured length was 3.5 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 Dearne.

See 3-spined stickleback records across England →

Most recent observation17 June 2026Stairfoot
Largest measured 3-spined stickleback
8.1 cm
Median length
3.5 cm
Fish measured
572
Survey locations
28

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
8.1 cm15 Aug 2017Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey151437
7.1 cm23 Jun 2011Adwick-on-Dearne129634
5.9 cm20 Jun 2017Stairfoot150666
5.2 cm20 Sept 2001Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey130852
5.1 cm7 Sept 2012Pack Horse Bridge133340
5.1 cm1 Oct 1998Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey130849
5.1 cm1 Oct 1998Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey130849
5 cm15 Aug 2017Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey151437
5 cm22 Jun 2017Darfield (expanded 2016)150678
5 cm20 Sept 2001Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey130852

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
Stairfoot5 Oct 198217 Jun 202614
Haigh roundabout19 Apr 19836 Aug 20255
Pastures Bridge - Fry Survey18 Sept 199713 Aug 202418
meanders u/s Pastures Bridge6 Oct 198218 Jun 201810
Darfield (expanded 2016)20 Apr 198322 Jun 20174
Pack Horse Bridge7 Sept 20127 Sept 20121
Adwick-on-Dearne10 Aug 198323 Jun 20113
Darton Scout Clubhouse20 Jun 201120 Jun 20111
Downstream Broomhill bridge23 May 199722 Jun 20102
Old Moor upstream site11 Sept 200411 Sept 20041
Pastures Bridge29 Oct 19977 May 19982
Harlington (u/s improvement)29 Oct 199729 Oct 19971
Upstream Bretton Lakes5 Oct 198219 Sept 19975
Old Moor downstream site19 May 199719 May 19971
Broomhill5 Oct 198226 Sept 19943
Star Paper Mill Weir20 Apr 19835 Aug 19944
Downstream Cawthorne Dyke5 Aug 19945 Aug 19941
Low Barugh19 Apr 19834 Aug 19944
Park Mill13 Jul 19885 Sept 19912
Darton19 Apr 19834 Sept 19913
Parkgate Dyke u/s footbridge15 Aug 199115 Aug 19911
Scissett, d/s dairy16 Jan 199116 Jan 19911
Parkgate Dyke, from track bridge16 Jan 199116 Jan 19911
Downstream Denby Dale16 Jan 199116 Jan 19911
Downstream Clayton West STW16 Jan 199116 Jan 19911
Bolton-0n-Dearne10 May 198322 Jul 19882
Cudworth20 Apr 198321 Jul 19882
Near Hoyle Mill25 Jun 198525 Jun 19851

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

1982–2026

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 572 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
0.9 cm
Lower quarter
3 cm
Median
3.5 cm
Upper quarter
4 cm
Largest
8.1 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Dearne

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

Gudgeon Brown / sea trout Chub Roach Minnow Perch

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 →