RiverFish

Spined loach · Cobitis taenia

Spined loach in the River Welland

Largest measured spined loach: 9.6 cm

The largest spined loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Welland was 9.6 cm, recorded at Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge on 9 April 2007.

Across 203 measured spined loach, the median measured length was 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 Welland.

See spined loach records across England →

Most recent observation29 April 2026Upstream Lubenham Road Bridge · 1 fish
Largest measured spined loach
9.6 cm
Median length
6 cm
Fish measured
203
Survey locations
19

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
9.6 cm9 Apr 2007Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge105390
9.5 cm29 Apr 2003Sandy Lane75872
9.1 cm21 May 2007Sandy Lane105605
8.4 cm10 Oct 2024Sandy Lane167570
8.2 cm7 May 2008Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge110698
8 cm9 Apr 2007Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge105390
8 cm9 Apr 2007Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge105390
8 cm9 May 2006Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge101175
8 cm16 Jul 1996New Road End54214
7.9 cm7 May 2008Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge110698

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
Upstream Lubenham Road Bridge29 Apr 202629 Apr 20261
Hudds Mill Downstream Weir (main channel)27 Aug 200916 Oct 20242
Sandy Lane29 Apr 200310 Oct 20249
Upstream Wakerly Road Bridge25 Jun 20146 Oct 20162
Thorpe by Water2 Jul 20142 Jul 20141
Downstream Harringworth Road Bridge25 Jun 200220 Jun 201413
Downstream Gretton Road Bridge2 Aug 200613 May 20144
Downstream Duddington Road Bridge10 May 20077 May 20146
Downstream Lolham Mill Stream6 Jul 200524 Oct 20134
Stamford Meadows13 May 200823 May 20134
Right Hand Bank18 Nov 200818 Nov 20081
Full Section18 Nov 200818 Nov 20081
Downstream Uffington13 May 200813 May 20081
Turtle Bridge1 Aug 20061 Aug 20061
Wherry's Mill20 Apr 200520 Apr 20051
Blackgate13 Aug 199628 Jul 20045
New Road End16 Jul 199616 Jul 19961
Upstream A16 Road Bridge6 Apr 19936 Apr 19931
Peg 45018 Oct 199018 Oct 19901

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

1990–2026

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 203 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
3.5 cm
Lower quarter
5 cm
Median
6 cm
Upper quarter
7 cm
Largest
9.6 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Welland

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

Pike Dace European eel Roach Perch 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 →