RiverFish

Spined loach · Cobitis taenia

Spined loach in the River Stour

Largest measured spined loach: 11.4 cm

The largest spined loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Stour was 11.4 cm, recorded at Great Thurlow on 4 October 2006.

Across 464 measured spined 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 River Stour.

See spined loach records across England →

Most recent observation11 August 2025Mill Meadow · 1 fish
Largest measured spined loach
11.4 cm
Median length
7.6 cm
Fish measured
464
Survey locations
38

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured spined loach

The largest individual measurements in this river and species dataset. Equal measurements are retained as separate surveyed fish.

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
11.4 cm4 Oct 2006Great Thurlow101966
10.3 cm29 Aug 2012Boxted Mill133606
10.2 cm13 Jul 2018Fen Bridge154057
10.2 cm21 Jun 2004Bakers Mill A80331
10 cm8 Sept 2003Bower Hall77915
9.7 cm3 Jul 2024Downstream Dedham Mill165741
9.7 cm21 Jun 2004Bakers Mill A80331
9.6 cm12 Jun 2015Tendring Hall145223
9.5 cm4 Jul 2006Downstream Dedham Mill99918
9.4 cm24 Jul 2006Wiston Mill100258

Lengths are direct survey measurements. RiverFish does not estimate fish weights from length.

Explore the river

Where spined loach were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one spined 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 spined loach
Mill Meadow20 Oct 199411 Aug 202511
Higham Hall7 Jul 200623 Jul 20257
Fen Bridge20 Jun 200315 Jul 202514
Great Thurlow4 Oct 200618 Sept 20242
Mill Farm Clare18 Sept 200623 Aug 20243
Bush Boake Allen22 Aug 200014 Aug 20245
Boxted Mill12 Jul 200613 Aug 20247
Wormingford Mill1 Aug 20067 Aug 20245
Pentlow Mill31 Jul 202431 Jul 20241
Lamarsh FGS A1 Aug 200729 Jul 20247
Downstream Dedham Mill4 Jul 20063 Jul 20245
Upstream Dedham Mill26 Jun 201819 Jun 20242
Stratford9 Jul 199717 Jun 20248
Anchor Bridge24 Jul 200725 Jul 202311
Pitmire A19 Jul 201321 Jul 20235
Bures Mill21 Aug 20065 Jul 20239
Bures Bridge A2 Aug 20064 Jul 202311
Rats Castle11 Sept 200323 Sept 202210
Wissington31 Jul 20062 Aug 20163
Tendring Hall27 Jun 201325 Jul 20164
Bower Hall8 Sept 200328 Jul 20153
Judas Gap Elver Trap26 Jul 201526 Jul 20151
Shalford Weir30 Jul 200923 Jul 20154
Wiston Mill21 Jul 19976 Jul 20153
Flatford Mill28 Jun 20061 Jul 20153
Liston Mill5 Sept 20125 Sept 20121
Langham Intake14 Jul 19973 Aug 20102
Bakers Mill A21 Jun 200429 Jul 20107
Kedington FGS21 Aug 200921 Aug 20091
Brantham Lock17 Jun 200322 Jun 20092
Great Bradley (headwater)17 Oct 200617 Oct 20061
Pentlow Street7 Sept 20067 Sept 20061
Priory Meadow16 Aug 200616 Aug 20061
Shalford Meadow11 Aug 200611 Aug 20061
Wick Farm14 Jul 200614 Jul 20061
Little Thurlow13 Oct 200013 Oct 20001
Brundon (River Stour Middle)4 Aug 20004 Aug 20001
Dedham (Old) River28 Jun 200028 Jun 20001

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

1994–2025

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded spined loach that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 464 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2.7 cm
Lower quarter
6.4 cm
Median
7.6 cm
Upper quarter
8.2 cm
Largest
11.4 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Stour

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

Roach European eel Perch Pike Chub Dace

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 →