RiverFish

Minnow · Phoxinus phoxinus

Minnow in the River Wensum (Restoration strategy)

Largest measured minnow: 11.7 cm

The largest minnow measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Wensum (Restoration strategy) was 11.7 cm, recorded at Upstream County School (reach 19) on 8 October 2010.

Across 1,459 measured minnow, the median measured length was 5.3 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 Wensum (Restoration strategy).

See minnow records across England →

Most recent observation1 May 2025Upstream Dunton Bridge · 53 fish
Largest measured minnow
11.7 cm
Median length
5.3 cm
Fish measured
1,459
Survey locations
16

Individual EA measurements

Largest measured minnow

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

LengthSurvey dateSurvey locationSurvey ID
11.7 cm8 Oct 2010Upstream County School (reach 19)124399
9.9 cm14 Aug 2024Downstream Porters Lane, Lenwade167127
9.2 cm14 Aug 2024Downstream Porters Lane, Lenwade167127
9 cm22 Jul 2013Gt. Ryburgh Common, New loop (Reach24)137469
8.6 cm5 Sept 2011Gt Ryburgh Common d/s meander128191
8.5 cm21 Sept 2012Gt Ryburgh End - Downstream confluence to iron bridge133845
8.2 cm13 Jun 2012Swanton Morley (Restoration Reach 14)131535
8.1 cm16 Apr 2019Upstream Dunton Bridge155907
8 cm26 Jul 2013Downstream Fakenham Common (Reach 25)137482
7.9 cm1 May 2025Upstream Dunton Bridge177101

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

Explore the river

Where minnow were found

Each point marks a survey location with at least one minnow 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 minnow
Upstream Dunton Bridge6 Apr 20171 May 20254
Upstream Attlebridge30 Aug 202430 Aug 20241
Swanton Morley (Restoration Reach 14)13 Jun 201228 Aug 20244
Three Bridges Farm, Lyng22 Aug 202422 Aug 20241
Downstream Porters Lane, Lenwade14 Aug 202414 Aug 20241
Hempton Moor (Upstream Fakenham bypass) (reach 27)5 Sept 20158 Jul 20192
Upstream County School (reach 19)21 Sept 20095 Jul 20194
Downstream Fakenham Common (Reach 25)26 Jul 201322 Jul 20142
Gt. Ryburgh Common, New loop (Reach24)1 Sept 201122 Jul 20132
Gt Ryburgh End - Downstream confluence to iron bridge23 Sept 201121 Sept 20122
Gt Ryburgh End - New Channel Downstream6 Sept 20126 Sept 20121
Gt Ryburgh End - New channel Upstream5 Sept 20125 Sept 20121
Gt Ryburgh End - Back Channel (Habitat survey)20 Sept 201120 Sept 20111
Gt Ryburgh Common upstream18 Aug 20105 Sept 20112
Gt Ryburgh Common d/s meander18 Aug 20105 Sept 20112
Sayers Meadow30 Jul 199730 Jul 19971

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

1997–2025

Survey records by year

Each bar shows how many survey visits recorded minnow that year.

Fish measured by surveyors

Measured length distribution

See how the 1,459 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
1.5 cm
Lower quarter
4.8 cm
Median
5.3 cm
Upper quarter
5.9 cm
Largest
11.7 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Wensum (Restoration strategy)

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

Bullhead Dace Stone loach Gudgeon 3-spined stickleback Pike

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 →