RiverFish

Stone loach · Barbatula barbatula

Stone loach in the River Esk

Largest measured stone loach: 12.3 cm

The largest stone loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Esk was 12.3 cm, recorded at Sleddale Beck at Footbridge on 5 September 2013.

Across 1,257 measured stone loach, the median measured length was 7.5 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 Esk.

See stone loach records across England →

Most recent observation2 October 20256.0 Toll Road, Grosmont ESK/SA/Q/003
Largest measured stone loach
12.3 cm
Median length
7.5 cm
Fish measured
1,257
Survey locations
34

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
12.3 cm5 Sept 2013Sleddale Beck at Footbridge138489
12.1 cm10 Oct 2017Churchdale beck152005
12 cm5 Sept 2013Sleddale Beck at Footbridge138489
11.8 cm4 Oct 20214.0 Lealholm ESK/SA/Q/002160366
11.7 cm10 Oct 2017Little beck152016
11.7 cm10 Oct 2017Little beck152016
11.7 cm10 Oct 2017Little beck152016
11.6 cm11 Oct 2021u/s Dibbles Bridge160459
11.6 cm10 Oct 2017Little beck152016
11.6 cm10 Oct 2017Little beck152016

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
u/s Dibbles Bridge27 Sept 20182 Oct 20255
6.0 Toll Road, Grosmont ESK/SA/Q/00314 Oct 19992 Oct 202521
3.2 Upstream Lealholm stepping stones13 Jun 20051 Oct 20256
5.0 Limber Hill15 Oct 19998 Oct 20247
u/s Dibbles Bridge Riffle Site7 Oct 20247 Oct 20241
Station Road Riffle Site7 Oct 20247 Oct 20241
Rake Farm Lower Riffle Site9 Oct 20237 Oct 20242
Low Newbiggin House Riffle Site7 Oct 20247 Oct 20241
Danby Riffle Site4 Oct 20237 Oct 20242
Carr House Riffle Site7 Oct 20247 Oct 20241
Toll Road Grosmont Riffle Site25 Sept 202425 Sept 20241
Low Newbiggin Riffle Site25 Sept 202425 Sept 20241
Grosmont Farm LHS Riffle Site25 Sept 202425 Sept 20241
7.0 Low Newbiggin20 Oct 200025 Sept 20244
6.2 Grosmont Farm LHS24 Sept 201125 Sept 20243
d/s Castleton17 Oct 201824 Sept 20245
Little beck15 Jun 200511 Oct 20234
Underpark Farm Riffle Site9 Oct 20239 Oct 20231
2.1 Upper 5b site14 Jun 20059 Oct 20233
4.0 Lealholm ESK/SA/Q/0028 Oct 19994 Oct 202117
1.0 Dibble Bridge ESK/SA/Q/00117 Sept 200727 Sept 20189
Churchdale beck15 Jun 200510 Oct 20173
2.4 Lower 5b site14 Jun 200519 Sept 20143
Sleddale Beck at Footbridge5 Sept 20135 Sept 20131
4.1 Underpark Farm14 Jun 200522 Oct 20082
5.2 Beckside Farm upper site15 Jun 200515 Jun 20051
2.2 Middle 5b site14 Jun 200514 Jun 20051
2.3 Shackleton Bridge13 Jun 200513 Jun 20051
4.3.1 Glaisdale Beck , Glaisdale24 Sept 200324 Sept 20031
4.2.1 Stonegate Beck at Thornhill Farm24 Sept 200324 Sept 20031
2.0 Danby6 Oct 19992 Oct 20024
1.2 Six Arches Bridge, Castleton11 Oct 200125 Sept 20022
3.0 Lawns Farm6 Oct 199920 Oct 20002
4.4 Glaisdale STW6 Oct 19996 Oct 19991

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

1999–2025

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 1,257 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2 cm
Lower quarter
6.3 cm
Median
7.5 cm
Upper quarter
8.6 cm
Largest
12.3 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Esk

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

Brown / sea trout Atlantic salmon European eel Minnow 3-spined stickleback Brook lamprey

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 →