i was fishing the river taff today and came across a fish which i have never seen before and was wondering if anyone on here has seen one before or knows what it is?

Hello Welshflyfisher,

It's a loach.

Johan

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Johan Janssens

yep its a loach

TT

are they any harm to trout in the small streams and are they quite rare in numbers?

May I first ask if you found this fish dead or in the stomach of another fish (trout?) because it looks to be decaying.

Johan

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Johan Janssens

i found it dead at the side of the river, i never kill wild fish

If this is the only one you found it might be a natural death, should you find more your river has a problem. Loach are very fragile fish and good indicators of clean, unpolluted water. They live in harmony with your wild trout and are no more danger to them than other species. My reason for asking if you found it in a trout (easily retractable by the spooning technique without killing the fish) is that occasionally trout will catch and eat them. So they are in fact an addition (albeit small) to their diet.

Regards,
Johan

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Johan Janssens

thankyou for the imformation. I shall go down the river a few times this week so if i see anymore ill let you know. But im glad to hear its not a juvinile lamprey

What makes you think a lamprey is detrimental to trout or your river?

Johan

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Johan Janssens

Loach shape, but all the barbels - should have 3 or more pairs - seem to have melted off.



Found in the river Wye, even the Elan, Noemacheilus barbatulus L. is also tolerant of coal waste and therefore is certainly in the Taff. Size typically is 8 to 12 cm.

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biosi/resou...ibutaries..pdf

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