Stone Loach

[Unimexsol]

I remember catching a very small fish when I was a youngster that my dad identified for me as a Stone Loach. I've never seen another being caught, is that because they are uncommon or just that I fish in slower waters now?

[rooney888]

I remember catching a very small fish when I was a youngster that my dad identified for me as a Stone Loach. I've never seen another being caught, is that because they are uncommon or just that I fish in slower waters now?

 

Ive got 2 of these in my tank, i caught them at the river severn near ironbridge. Its preety fast flowing water, so they might prefer faster moving currents but im not sure.

[jedibond]

Took this off a website Uni, might explain it as they seem to prefer clear water.

 

"This small slender fish is found in clear water almost everywhere in the British Isles - except Northern Scotland. Usually it hides under stones (whence its name) - waiting for the small creatures on which it feeds. Its colour is grey-greenish or brownish - with irregular darker blotches; the belly is white. There are six barbels round its mouth - the two at the corners of the jaws being longer than the other four. The scales and eyes are small - the fins dotted or striped. Average length three to four inches."

[Chris Plumb]

Plenty in the Kennet and its tributaries - rarely seen by anglers as they hardly ever take and anglers bait...

 

 

C.

[ColinW]

They are probably not as rare as you might think. We found some for a mate's fish tank in a little stream (more drainage ditch really) that runs under the Leeds Liverpool canal in Merseyside. They were lying under rocks in only a couple of inches of water, so not somewhere you are ever likely to be fishing!

[RPM]

I remember catching a very small fish when I was a youngster that my dad identified for me as a Stone Loach. I've never seen another being caught, is that because they are uncommon or just that I fish in slower waters now?

 

I am sure I will be corrected but I believe this species is also nocturnal

[gozzer]

They are probably not as rare as you might think. We found some for a mate's fish tank in a little stream (more drainage ditch really) that runs under the Leeds Liverpool canal in Merseyside. They were lying under rocks in only a couple of inches of water, so not somewhere you are ever likely to be fishing!

 

I've caught a few in the Leeds & Liverpool canal, in the Rodley area near Leeds, Colin.

 

John.

Edited May 29, 2007 by gozzer

[Mat Hillman]

I know of one lake fairly close to me where they are easy to catch

 

 

Mat

[hermes]

My son caught this Stone Loach or is it a Bullhead/Millers thumb fishing on the river Lea on a maggot feeder, I haven't seen one of these for years and don't think I have ever caught one myself.

 

Edited May 29, 2007 by hermes

[Dick Dastardly]

Only place ive ever caught them is from a small stream that ran at the back of my house at Chipping Sodbury near Bristol as a lad."Stalked" them with a bit of worm on a size 18!