RiverFish

Stone loach · Barbatula barbatula

Stone loach in the River Witham

Largest measured stone loach: 13 cm

The largest stone loach measured in Environment Agency surveys of the River Witham was 13 cm, recorded at Haddington Bridge on 4 September 2008.

Across 2,337 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 Witham.

See stone loach records across England →

Most recent observation12 November 2025Belton Park - DS Habitat Site
Largest measured stone loach
13 cm
Median length
7.5 cm
Fish measured
2,337
Survey locations
32

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
13 cm4 Sept 2008Haddington Bridge114400
12.7 cm21 May 1997Queen Elizabeth Park53342
12.7 cm4 May 1988Paper Mill53093
12.6 cm4 May 1988Paper Mill53093
12.4 cm16 Sept 2010Upstream Syston Weir124320
12.3 cm4 May 1988Paper Mill53093
12.2 cm16 Apr 2008Upstream Beckingham Bridge110824
12.2 cm20 May 1997Paper Mill53341
12 cm4 May 1988Paper Mill53093
12 cm4 May 1988Paper Mill53093

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
Belton Park - DS Habitat Site12 Nov 202512 Nov 20251
Marston Bridge16 Sept 19855 Nov 202512
Easton Park30 Sept 19859 Jul 202413
Sleeper Bridge (Witham)6 Sept 198522 Aug 202316
Paper Mill30 Sept 19858 Sept 201710
Great Ponton1 Oct 19857 Sept 201711
Cringle Brook8 Oct 20077 Sept 20175
Upstream Syston Weir26 Sept 19856 Sept 20177
Upstream Beckingham Bridge11 Apr 19883 May 201712
Claypole Bridge9 Mar 19882 May 201715
Haddington Bridge16 Aug 198526 Apr 20179
Upstream Foston Ford5 Sept 198525 Apr 201716
Upstream Paper Mill Farm15 Oct 201515 Oct 20151
Easton Lane Road Bridge d/s13 Oct 201513 Oct 20151
Maiden Bower Wood - Grange Farm29 Aug 201429 Aug 20141
Long Acre Wood Upstream Cringle Brook Confluence29 Aug 201429 Aug 20141
North Witham18 Jun 199124 Apr 20124
Hougham Mill29 Aug 19852 Sept 20112
A607 Road Bridge28 Aug 198523 Apr 20046
Tattershall Bridge (Witham)16 Jul 200316 Jul 20031
Short Ferry (Witham)30 Jul 200230 Jul 20021
Thorpe Tilney Road (Witham)18 Jun 199818 Jun 19981
Blackmoor Farm Witham9 Oct 198517 Sept 19972
Stapleford11 Sept 198524 Jul 19974
Queen Elizabeth Park12 Sept 198521 May 19974
Greetwell Hall (Witham)7 Jun 19947 Jun 19941
Claypole B22 Apr 199422 Apr 19941
Marston Mill21 May 199121 May 19911
Bassingham Upstream Bridge18 Sept 198511 Mar 19882
Upstream Elinors Weir23 Sept 19851 Mar 19882
Barkston Bridge25 Sept 198525 Sept 19851
Hougham Mill - Marston Mill4 Sept 19854 Sept 19851

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

1985–2025

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 2,337 measured fish were spread across different length ranges.

Smallest
3.2 cm
Lower quarter
6.4 cm
Median
7.5 cm
Upper quarter
8.7 cm
Largest
13 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 →