What fish is this

[Andyac]

20200807_082421_copy_756x1008.jpg

Hi All
I have been fishing since i was 10 and lucky enough to fish the river Test and Itchen so dont have a problem with fish indentification if i have my glasses on. I raked this little fish from the Ongar Roding a few weeks ago. No barbels rules out Stoneloach and Gudgeon. No spines rules out Stickleback and Ruffe. No large head rules out Bullhead. The colour scheme is all wrong for a Roding Minnow, they have a black lateral line and lighter under belly. I have caught 3 goldfish from the Roding so nothing is unusual. Any ideas?

[Santiago]

Baby burbut! Otherwise known as a small headed bullhead.

[Marks7]

Always glad to see another species in the Roding.

[Olly]

http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ ... iginal.pdf - - - Spined Loach

It does appear Loach - like.

Some species you don't want in the river!

[Kev D]

Looks like a stone loach ,but no barbules???

[Tengisgol]

Might be worth sending to the local EA fishery people.

[Andyac]

Hi All
This is my rake it cost £20 from a metal fab firm 20 yrs ago. I raked out two of the unusual fish along with 1 Roach, 1 Crayfish and lots of Bullhead. I always check the weed for fish and at Passingford Bridge years ago pulled out a 1oz Tench and recently a Elver. If i rake in another of this fish i,ll try to get a better picture.

[Andyac]

I have taken Tengisgol, s advice and sent my picture to the EA. The EA have a Covid 19 message and they may take longer than 10 days to answer my (our) question. Perhaps I should tell them I have done two fish netting at the thames at Thurrock with EA and both times we nettered rare fish not seen for years. A Butterfish is real. I am not in a position to discount any suggestion however I may be wrong but I think a burbut has a barbule under the chin? The boss, not the one at the work place has allowed me a afternoon/evening session over the Roding at High Ongar Castle stretch tomorrow, God willing. I have checked the EA website and the Roding is up and rising with rain predicted all day, hopefully my two Avons will be out with Lobworm and Crust/Flake . A rising river is no where near as good as a dropping river. I have not been out for weeks, looking forward to fishing in the rain under my oval umbrella.
Best Wishes and tight lines if or when you get out next!

[Andyac]

Hi All
I got out today and went to the bottom end of Castles stretch and it was over the bank. Cripsey brook adding extra water. I trod on a wasp nest entrance and got stung on my finger for the 2nd time this year. I went to the top end and much better flow with slightly slower pace than walking pace. Here the river Roding is about 2 rod lengths wide to half a rod length and responds.to pole fishing and a very small feeder. I had my two heavy avons with bobbins. I have blanked here several times ,once in this actual swim and only caught a small Jack Pike further up. Within 30 minutes the bobbin on the lob tail moved towards the rod and I lifted into a quality fish only to retrieve my 12 barbless hook bare after about 5 seconds. The bony mouth of a good Perch probably. Then I caught two crayfish one after the other and thought the fish had gone. Shortly after the bobbin hit the rod on the lob tail and I missed it. 25 minutes later the lobworm bobbin shot up a 7 oz Roach was mine. A hour later a 5oz Roach was caught on the lob tail. Hope to return on Monday to the same swim and try and remember to get a crusty loaf.

[Tengisgol]

She was colouring up significantly this afternoon!