It has been another tough week on the Helmsdale as the river has been on the high side and a rise to 3ft on Friday did not help matters but fish were still caught. Beat 3 was the hot spot for some reason but that was not totally surprising as it holds some long quality spring pools which fish in high water, especially the Tail of the Bay and that’s where 3 of 4 from the beat were caught. It also produced the fish of the week, a blistering 24 pounder for Alan Stone who I believe also had an 18 pounder from beat 4. Lower Torrish produced another fish for beat 3 and beat 5 scored again to make it 6. Saturday settled a little and 3 more fish were caught on beats 1, 2 & 4 to take the tally to a respectable hard fought 9 for the week

So we have created a new Monkey fly category for arguably the deadliest spring salmon flies on the planet. Check it out here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/monkey-tubes.html

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Not such a great week on the Helmsdale with only 4 fish reported. The river was unsettled but fish were caught on beat 5 (2) Kilphedir pool beat 2 and the Tail of the Bay beat 3.

We have great new flies back in stock including one of our absolute best sellers, the Rs baby TD (below ) snap these up for the summer when you have the chance as they are real killers! You can buy them right here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-baby-td-aluminium-tube-rons-favourite.html

The river is simmering away and producing some nice fish. John (Hardy) Sutherland got the week off to a flyer hooking a perfect 14lbs sea licer at 9.05 am. The Whinnie pool beat 1 was the spot, Willie Gunn with green body did the rest! Another 5 were reported. Andy Sutherland struck again with an early morning 12 pounder from Lower Caen (bt 1) Jim Forsyth had his second from the Association water at 10lbs. Graham Nichols grassed a 9 pounder from Kilphedir (bt 2) on an Alistair tube and another fish was reported from beat 5. The best of the week fell to William Jappy who collided with a bruising 20 pounder covered in long tailed sea-lice on Friday, Dempsters pool (bt 4).

Andy with another missile at 12lbs

John...

There are around 4 off the Helmsdale now. Since the first fish came off there have been 2 superb fish at 20 & 24lbs. Jim Forsyth had the first fish off the Association water, Flat pool on an Alistair tube and a 24 pounder was caught on beat 6 along with another fish there later in the week. Water temps were up to 43/44 during the week so fish will be ascending the Kildonan falls at this rate, unheard of at this time of the year.

We are still running our super successful 3 plus 1 offer on all salmon flies so grab the chance to stock up on your fave flies! Some great tubes are back in stock including Chartreuse and black & yellow Loop bottle tubes and our famous Willie Gunn Specials (yellow) which have been one of our best sellers for years, (pic below) arguably the best fly of all time and invented just down the road on the Brora river.

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We are now running our popular 3 + 1 on salmon flies, every multiple of 3 you buy we will add a free similar fly, its that simple. Our flies are catching superb spring salmon on the many rivers right now as they always have done, so get stuck in while stocks last!

Andy Sutherland has caught the first Helmsdale river fish again, a tide frseh 9 pounder from Caen Streams beat 1. The fish was caught on a Golden Angel tube very similar to his trusty Garry Dog which landed him his biggest ever salmon, A Spey 30lbs from Arndilly many years ago. A simple fly design with no frills but a tried and tested pattern which just keeps on catching.

Our flies and accessories are now also available from the Twisted Thistle gift shop Fochabers, drop in and see all the other superb gifts on display. The shop is very handy and right next to the Gordon Arms car par.

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Its pretty quiet on the fishing front right now, not many kelts on the go and no sign of a springer in the Helmsdale river yet, but, heavy rain has lifted the water again and the river is in full spate this weekend. The free public days are over and the river will revert to being lightly fished. Its time to get your fishing gear in order and plan your attack for the rest of the season.

Most of the big rivers are still closed but thats all about to change when the Tweed, Dee Spey and Findhorn all get under way in the next 2 weeks. Tweed and Dee on Feb 1st and Spey and Findhorn on 11th Feb.

Advice? don't go anywhere without a selection of the best selling Gaelforce sinking poly-tips which now come in 4 densities from Intermediate to 7ips. These are density compensated with strong loops at both ends which fish great and turn over off any good floating line. We have the full range right here in 6ft and 10ft so its easy to buy some anytime, click here to purchase 6ft - Read more

Just a couple of snaps to warm up your winter nights....There have been a few  Springers off the Tay system and 2 crackers off up North. One off the  river Naver at 16lbs held by Peter MacGregor and a superb thumping 25 pounder off the river Morriston on the Ness system caught by John Macisaac. Well done lads....great to see superb springers like that in January.

Naver fish

Mr Macisaac with his superb 25 pounder

The Helmsdale river flew into action once again with the usual good show of anglers for the free fishing, unfortunately no fresh run fish were landed on the Friday or Saturday. The river was low running at around 5" and kelts were few and far between, temperatures were also unseasonably high, it was not what you would expect in early January.

The river has risen considerably since opening day and hopes will be much higher for the week ahead. If there are any spring salmon in the area then they will be crusing into the river as we speak.

Martin Grant launched the first cast and was piped in by April Sutherland ( my daughter ) from the Sutherland Schools pipe band. A great day was had by all and business was brisk in the village in general from the amazing seafood platters on offer to the delights of Ice & Fire Gin tasting at Glencoast, there will be a few...

We are running a competition from today (30/12/18). Last season one of our flies really stood out from the rest, if you are first to name it you will win a dozen in a selection of sizes. It's worth the guess as you will catch fish on it next season for sure. Email or answer on our latest facebook post to win. Naked Kinermony wins...Allan Marandola was first and wins 12 & Mark Elder wins 6. you can buy them here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-naked-kinermony-killer.html

Photo by Alan Bithel

In less than 2 weeks (Jan 11th) the stunning river Helmsdale (above) once again opens for business and ex Ghillie Martin Grant will have the honour of casting the first fly. Tickets for the annual free fishing will be available from "Glencoast"...

The close season is flying in and we are only a matter of days before Christmas and just a few weeks before the opening of many salmon rivers.

We have loads of last minute accessories and fly selections for Christmas gifts, grab some of them and you still have plenty time for a Christmas delivery.

Our most popular accessory is the Helmsdale lanyard and retractable hook sharpener (below) and we have fabulous new collection flies in our Christmas fly selections.

You can also call us up and arrange any type of fly selection you want, we make tham up quickly and get them off in the post immediately.

Helmsdale lanyard and hook sharpener

and open