The Coarse Fishing Guide

Latin name Cobitis taenia (Spined Loach),
Noemacheilus barbatulus (Stone Loach)

Two species of loach are found in British waters; the Spined Loach and the Stone Loach.

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Both species have barbels, those on the spined loach being smaller. They are very small fish, rarely exceeding a few inches, and are more likely to be caught by small boys with a net, than an angler with rod and line, although the odd one may be caught when legering small baits in small rivers.

Baits

Loach will take maggots and small worms.

Tactics

Rolling up your trouser legs and using a net to catch Loach that are disturbed by moving stones on the river bed is your best bet, but if you are intent on catching every species of fish that swims using rod and line, you may be lucky if you persevere with a small maggot or a piece of a small red worm on light leger tackle where Loach are known to be present.