RiverFish

3-spined stickleback · Gasterosteus aculeatus

3-spined stickleback in the River Witham

Largest measured 3-spined stickleback: 8.5 cm

The largest 3-spined stickleback measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Witham was 8.5 cm, recorded at Haddington Bridge on 16 September 1997.

Across 571 measured 3-spined stickleback, the median measured length was 4.1 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 Witham.

See 3-spined stickleback records across England →

Most recent observation12 November 2025Belton Park - DS Habitat Site
Largest measured 3-spined stickleback
8.5 cm
Median length
4.1 cm
Fish measured
571
Survey locations
27

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
8.5 cm16 Sept 1997Haddington Bridge53352
7.6 cm16 Sept 1997Haddington Bridge53352
7.2 cm15 Apr 2010Upstream Beckingham Bridge121713
7 cm21 May 1997Queen Elizabeth Park53342
6.8 cm24 Oct 1991Kirks Farm R/B (Witham)53236
6.5 cm21 May 1997Queen Elizabeth Park53342
6.4 cm21 May 1997Queen Elizabeth Park53342
6.2 cm24 Oct 1991Kirks Farm R/B (Witham)53236
6.1 cm15 Apr 2010Upstream Beckingham Bridge121713
6.1 cm24 Oct 1991Kirks Farm R/B (Witham)53236

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
Belton Park - DS Habitat Site12 Nov 202512 Nov 20251
Marston Bridge2 Sept 20115 Nov 20254
Great Ponton20 May 199725 Aug 20236
Sleeper Bridge (Witham)23 Apr 200422 Aug 20239
Upstream Beckingham Bridge27 Apr 20063 May 20176
Claypole Bridge23 Apr 20102 May 20172
Haddington Bridge16 Sept 199726 Apr 20174
Upstream Foston Ford8 May 200225 Apr 20178
Belton Park9 Sept 20169 Sept 20161
Maiden Bower Wood - Grange Farm29 Aug 20142 Sept 20162
Easton Lane Road Bridge d/s13 Oct 20152 Sept 20162
Paper Mill3 Sept 201331 Aug 20162
Long Acre Wood Upstream Cringle Brook Confluence29 Aug 201429 Aug 20141
Tattershall Bridge (Witham)4 Jun 20144 Jun 20141
Easton Park3 May 19883 Sept 20138
Upstream Elinors Weir19 Sept 201119 Sept 20111
Upstream Syston Weir15 Sept 201115 Sept 20111
Cringle Brook8 Oct 20078 Oct 20071
Chapel Hill (Witham)24 Jun 199821 Jun 20002
Queen Elizabeth Park20 May 199121 May 19972
North Witham18 Jun 199119 May 19972
Stixwould (Witham)22 Jun 199422 Jun 19941
Southrey (Witham)21 Jun 199421 Jun 19941
Downstream R/B Beet Factory (Witham)22 Jul 198820 Jun 19942
Greetwell Hall (Witham)7 Jun 19947 Jun 19941
Kirks Farm R/B (Witham)24 Oct 199124 Oct 19911
Beech House Farm L/B (Witham)4 Aug 19884 Aug 19881

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

1988–2025

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 571 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
2 cm
Lower quarter
3.7 cm
Median
4.1 cm
Upper quarter
4.5 cm
Largest
8.5 cm

Lengths are direct survey measurements rather than anglers’ catches.

More fish in this river

Explore the River Witham

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

Dace Roach Gudgeon European eel Perch 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 →