Freshwater fish include lasca, trout, freshwater perch, grayling, eel, barbel, whitefish, and tench. Local fish include Wels catfish, European perch, Common carp, Common barbel. Among fish are the barbel, bream and African yellow fish. Roe from carp is less common and barbel roe is also occasionally used. Both barbel and brown trout are extremely sensitive to water quality and pollution. Baits for catching barbel vary widely according to local practices and conditions. Some of the best barbel fishing venues are along the Loddon near Reading. Small fish like barbel and "Gambusia" feed on "Cyclops". The upper jaw extends over the lower jaw, which has a well-developed chin barbel. There is a labial barbel at each corner of its mouth. The record for the largest barbel caught on the river stands at . Each nostril has a short barbel and a groove running from it to the mouth. There is a rather small barbel on the chin. The eyes are medium-sized, approximately the same as the length of the chin barbel. The Ripon barbel ("Barbus altianalis") is found in the African Great Lakes.