2025 Smolt red light alert

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Blairgowrie, Rattray & District Angling Association

Red Alert for early smolts

To all Ericht anglers - The following message has been received from the River Ericht Project Advisory Group:-

Using SEPA water flow and weather forecasts, we are approaching a Red-Light Alert for any early smolts descending towards the Blairgowrie weirs on the Ericht.

Under these conditions, smolts may become stranded amongst the weir infrastructure and so we need to provide free access through the lade as a safer bypass.

Under these low-flow conditions these smolts are much better off being in the lade, than in amongst the weirs.

The following actions are being taken:

Cleaning screens at entrance and exit to lade will assist free unrestricted access - TDSFB bailiffs are monitoring this.
Westmill Fish Farm intake and dam impoundment are closed off and the dam has been removed - thanks to the fish farm management and staff.
All trout and salmon anglers are asked to heed the following advice:

- If a smolt is inadvertently hooked, great care should be taken releasing these delicately-scaled fish.

- As smolts are shoal fish, anglers should stop fishing that pool and move somewhere where smolts have not yet congregated.

Thank you very much for your co-operation.

BRDAA Secretary