The BRDAA
controls part of the fishing on the River Ericht covering some
5.5 miles of the river, on the Blairgowrie bank.
Association Membership
is currently available to local residents only.
Permits for non-members and visitors can be purchased at the two
Blairgowrie tackle outlets for Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout
and Grayling fishing. These
permits
allow visitors to fish the BRDAA waters of the River Ericht and
are available by Day, Week, or Season (Map
Here)
The Ericht
had a fish counter installed for salmon in the river above
Blairgowrie for some years until the collapse of the surrounding
weir, as part of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board
initiative. The historical data for the river counter, until
2010, can be seen
here
showing the passage of what was an annually increasing amount of
salmon over a 20 year period.
Catches since
2010 indicate a declining salmon run as reflected by salmon
catch returns from the Association members, until recently
showing both banks.
The Association also offers members, and guests of members, the
opportunity to fish on two private lochs. These are stocked
throughout the year as required with rainbow, blue and brown
trout ranging from two to four pounds. Fingask Loch contains
rainbows, blues and natural browns. Whiteloch contains natural
and stocked brown trout. (Loch
map
here)
Fishing is
with fly from boat only and is restricted by the availability of
association boats (bookable in advance by telephone or email
here).
Guests must be sponsored by a member.
While on
the boat waiting for the trout to bite, anglers may also
experience wildlife, both resident of, and visiting to the
lochs. It is not unusual to see various ducks, swans, herons,
dabchicks, grebes, moorhens, coots, ospreys, kingfishers and
other feathered visitors, as well as the occasional deer, that
spend some of their time there during the different seasons.
To minimise
the risk of transferring unwanted contamination e.g. Argulus to
the fish in the lochs, the Association requires that all nets
and similar tackle are 'dipped' before use. Facilities are
maintained at the Association boathouse to allow this when
required. The Association actively pursues a programme designed
to reduce or remove any contamination of Argulus found in its
waters with some measure of success.
For details
of prices, conditions etc. for the both the loch and River
Ericht fishing, please click
here.
Here
are the Association rules and regulations for fishing
Association waters.
BRDAA is a
supporter of youth angling, with members undergoing training in
support of the local and national efforts of the
Angling for
Youth Development initiative
(AFYD). Information enquiries are welcomed.
Check out
the Ericht fishing weather and forecast
here,
before you go!
And always remember,
as responsible anglers we help to keep the environment safe and
tidy:
