My niece Dawn Cowie is running a big auction for the Archie Foundation for sick children which has supported her and many others through ill health for many years. Public support had been fantastic so far and we are helping out with the auctioning of numerous fishing lots kindly donated.

The list will be growing so keep checking for updates right here and on our facebook page. To place a bid, simply contact us on facebook, or by email or text and we will register the bid on here against the lot No so you can keep up with things. Closing date is Feb 28th at the final Auction night in Helmsdale - Highest bidder by 28th Please leave us a mobile number if you want to be contacted during your chosen item being auctioned.

lot 1 is a stunning Loop/Mackenzie combo which we are donating worth around £1200, bidding starts at £300, view finer details here £780 bid - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/mackenzie/loop-superdeal-combo.html

Lot 2 - Season ticket on the Helmsdale Association water (donated by Helmsdale river Board) £200 bid

Lot 3 - Week ticket on the Helmsdale Association water x 3 (donated by Helmsdale River Board) £130 bid (1 ticket) £150 bid (2 tickets)

Lot 4 - 3 rods on River Halladale for W/C March 23rd (donated by Halladale river Board)

Lot 5 - 1 day brown trout fishing 2 rods loch Ascaig (donated by Sir Michael Wigan & Peter Quail) Head bailiff Peter Quail will ghillie and prvide fuel & outboard. £60 bid

Lot 6 - 1 x secret loch fishing for big brown trout in Sutherland 2 rods, pickup Helmsdale. (donated by Peter Quail ) £70 bid

Lot 7 - 1 days salmon fishing on river Dunbeath with Mac Young ( donated by Dunbeath estate ) £150 bid

Lot 8 - 1 night accom and meal at the Overscaig Hotel ( banks of loch Shin Lairg ) £100 bid ( can the person who has bid this please contact us with a telephone number please, thanks.

Some great fishing and deals there, please dig deep for this worthy foundation for sick children - Good luck

A stunning first Helmsdale fish has been landed yet again by that man Andy Sutherland and what a story....

After a sickening loss only an hour earlier, he dug deep and continued on in search of a fish on what he thought was a perfect fishing day. Fishing beat 2 with a river slowly on the rise he had landed a number of kelts until he arrived in Eldrable pool. At 1ft 2 the river was in fine fettle even on the rise, it was still clear and he hooked a fish at the tail end of the pool (in the hot spot). Played out, the fish was a perfectly formed sea-liced springer of around 9lbs but just as he was about grab the fish which was semi beached, the hook came flying out and the chance had gone to claim the first fish!...you just don't get a second chance in January right - wrong! he duly shook off the painful disappointment and headed up to the Private pool. The head of the pool was quickly covered and it was onto the tail end where horrendous wading is required to cover the best lie properly. A trademark long line was cast with his favourite Black & yellow Monkey conehead tube and another fish was on. After a very lively battle which involved going over the boots (chest waders) to wade past trees in the Old Bridge Pool a spanking 18 pounder was landed with the help of Torrish Ghillie Jean Bain. As Andy had no net, he made a quick call to Jean to see if she was around, luckily her house overlooks the pool and she was on hand to quickly grab a net and come to the rescue. The results are below -

photo's also courtesy of Jean Bain.

The tail of the Park pool where the 10 pounder was lurking.

An absolute pristine Helmsdale springer as fat as a pig!

Daughter Yvonne and Grandson Aaron Grant present the first fish prize once again to Andy.

Duly released to fight another day.

Brother Rons lethal Monkey Conehead which hooked 2 springers and a bag of kelts today (yes Jan 23rd!). If you have any fishing lined up this year anywhere for atlantic salmon you gotta buy some right here right now! - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-dee-monkey-silver-conehead-ghillies-choice.html

Don't forget we are running a "Buy 3 get 1 free" on all flies throughout the spring....

We have a fantastic longterm offer for you on flies this year, for every 3 flies you buy, we give you 1 free. Simply order multiples of 3 and we will select your free flies based on your order. If you would rather have different free flies, please let me know in the "comments" section when ordering and we will add those for you as instructed. We hope you enjoy this offer and make the most of it as we have some stunning new flies in stock as well as all the usual favourites.

There are still no fish reported off the river but few rods are venturing out due to the cold conditions. The river remains frost free however and just above freezing so there is a decent chance of a January fish when you consider that here are sea-liced fish being caught daily on the Tay which is running at a cool 36 degrees. 

I have just learned from Ghillie George Sutherland that Achentoul rods have kindly been officially offered free to local permit holders until Saturday February 7th with another Feb week possible later. Anyone interested in fishing these rods please book through the Tackle shop. The rotation starts on beat 1 Monday and ends beat 2 Saturday.

Here is one of our lethal best sellers exclusively designed by Ron, the RS Black & Yellow Mylar tube. These, as well as our Willie Gunn Mylars were hammering fish on the Dee last year when my friend Jim Fisher was outfishing absolutely everyone on the river!

A couple of Jim's power packed Dee springers from last year, Willie Gunn Mylar tube firmly attached and Black & yellow caught plenty also...you can buy them here right now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-willie-gunn-mylar-tube.html

Photo's courtecy of Jim Fisher.

167 keen anglers registered for the free fishing by the end of the week but no fresh fish were reported. The weather was against most of the time barring a calm day Wednesday and the river fluctuated between 5ft and 2ft. The water temperature was probably the biggest problem faced as it hovered close to freezing all week on 34 degrees whilst the sea temp was clocked at a smouldering 42. This will not exactly encourage springers to speed into the river but but one or two may creep up as far as the Flat pool on the Asssociation water or onto beat 1.

We have a "Buy 3 get 1 free" offer on flies right through the spring this year so nobody misses out! excluding Classic flies and Selection boxes. Please check out the sheer quality of our flies right here  -  http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/ Our Mylar tubes in particular are real killers as demonstrated by Jim Fisher on Deeside last year where he outfished all using them. The Willie Gunn and Black & Yellow versions below worked best. You can take advantage of our 3 + 1 offer to try them right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-black-yellow-mylar-tube.html

We have superb Hot NEW RS flies in stock her for spring also  - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/hot-new-rs-flies.html

RS Black & Yellow Mylar tube

RS Willie Gunn mylar tube

Kelts were caught but not in great numbers and a peculiar grilse caught by John Bell raised a few eyebrows. It had a tight vent, was fin perfect and it looked for all the world like a summer grilse. The verdict was a baggot (not spawned) which may have returned to the sea and decided to enter the river again after a few weeks which made it look so tide fresh, whatever it is, it is not a springer. (pic below)

Prospects are not amazing as the cold spell is set to continue BUT I would be confident fishing the Association water or beats 1 & 2. The first fish prize still awaits! Some pics from the week below.

The Association water is where you need to be and for only £25 per rod per day, its worth a punt right now, pensioners half price, under 16s free. Tickets available at Helmsdale Co Tackle shop or call us on 01431821372 to book and get the latest news.

Calum Gillies, Portree, returns a kelt in a snowstorm on beat 4.

Salscraggie pool getting well covered by anglers on both banks.

The scene from midweek looking down the glen towards the village from beat 2.

Here is one of our new flies based on the famous Tadpole fly so popular in the Highlands. Ron has modernised the design and shape to create a Monkey/TD style tube using the same successful colours. We have it available now in 0.5" & 1" in both copper and aluminium tubes. When the fish arrive this one will hammer them if its not sold out by then.....Click here to buy now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-tadpole-td-monkey.html

Wednesday saw a major improvement in the weather as you can see from the pics but the water temps slid back to only 34 degrees, thats just 2 degrees above freezing, air temp was 33. Today, (Thursday midday) the river has risen once again up to around 3ft and may keep rising as the rain is hammering down and snow is melting. The forecast is set to stay cold so the lower river will be the place to concentrate on.

Opening week free fishing is going well considering the unstable weather and 140 anglers have signed in so far. I expect another influx of anglers at the weekend so if you have not yet had a chuck, its time to get the fly in the water. Don't forget to take a camera as the first fish must be returned safely to the water after capture and a quick photograph. Good luck and remember we have a "Buy 3 get 1 free" on all flies right through the spring...excluding selections and classic flies. We will simply add your free flies based on your order unless you let us know what you want in the comments area.

Little Rock pool beat 6 in perfect condition yesterday.

The Manse pool beat 6 also looking superb.

No sign of a fish on our second day of the season here in the frozen North! The snow has well and truly moved in and temps only just hovered above freezing all day. Whiteout conditions pestered anglers at times but hopes were still high as the river remained clear and dropped back to a very accommodating 2ft. Unfortunately only kelts were showing an interest. Tomorrow is another day.

The RS Firetiger tube had the kelts buzzing....

Contemplating a cast on Upper Torrish in between blizzards!

The Helmsdale river opened today with a height of 4ft 6 on the guage, not the best and bordering on the unfishable. The weather was rough with high winds and wintry squalls and the Sutherland schools pipe band were advised to stay at home by Sir Michael Wigan. Pipe major Lee Bain was therefore sent to pipe us through the the opening ceremony and Alistair Jappy duly opend proceedings in front of a hardcore crowd of around 150 with 115 anglers registered in the opening day book - opening cast vid here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UElBuK4xfs

Opening day speech from Sir Michael Wigan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui1aHfTMQkA

The anglers who crossed the river and fished from the South bank had most success today but only with kelts mostly from Salscraggie and Kilphedir pools. No opening day fresh fish were reported. Prospects look much better for tomorrow as winds are to ease slightly and the river should drop.

Some Kilphedir pool action from the master himself, Andy Sutherland - this time the water height even beat the best! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ezGFgl6W30

A few pics, Alistair Jappy & Sir Michael Wigan prepare to open the river with our famous Sponsors malt, Clynelish.

Lone piper Lee Bain piping through the storm...

Andy Sutherland in full concentration on Kilphedir pool beat 2.

The tail of Kilphedir pool starting to look fishy.

Top end of Kilphedir pool looking rather rough as another heavy shower hammers down the Strath of Kildonan.

Sutherland Bros Ron & Andy strategising again but nothing to show for it apart from a bag of kelts!

Local fisherman Alistair Jappy will have the honour of casting the first fly of the new season tomorrow. Alistair has been invited to perform the opening cast on numerous occasions but his work at sea has usually rendered him unavailable. The river is looking perfect and today it is running at approx 2ft 6. We have a light dusting of snow on the ground but no ice and a clear running river.

Check out the latest vid here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhzoMbtG-S0

We also have a new fly category up and running with some hot new patterns http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/hot-new-rs-flies.html

And the bigger news is that we will be running a "Buy 3 get 1 free" on all flies apart from classics and selections for the whole spring! This is a fabulous long term offer and we hope you can take advantage of it over the longer term as we will probably extend this offer for the whole season if successful.

New RS FireTiger SuperSnaelda

New RS Blue Elver Monkey hooked up with an "Owner" Cutting point single hook, these are the best salmon tube singles on the market and are hugely popular on longwing tubes and on rivers where singles must be used. http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/owner-cutting-point-single-tube-hook.html

The river today at Salscraggie pool where the opening day first fish was landed last year by Andy Sutherland.

As the big Helmsdale river opening looms, the conditions could not be better. The river is currently running clear and absolutely ice free at about 2ft on the gauge. The forecast for the week ahead offers a mild West to South West airflow with a scattering of low pressure systems which will keep the river well topped up. I would guess at an opening day height of between 2 - 3 feet which will overindulge us on all our classic spring pools and from both banks.

Ron and daughter April Louise warming up some deadly flies for Opening day on our famous Salscraggie pool

Big flies will be the order of the day so get your orders into us for 1.5" and 2" copper and aluminium tubes and large coneheads, we also have a great selection of tungsten tubes perfect for early spring fishing. Better still, just come along to a week of absolutely free fishing. Register at the tackle shop from Sunday afternoon 2 pm until around 6 or pop in anytime Monday to Saturday from 9. we will be open from 8.30 on Opening day. I am booked for guiding from Monday to Wednesday currently so contact me if you need a helping hand later in the week, I'll take you through all the very best hot spots on some gorgeous water.

As usual, we have a cracking prize going to the lucky angler who catches the first clean fish of the season (and returns it) very important from now on! Make sure you have a camera as we all love to see a superb opening day springer on display. The Bridge Hotel crystal trophy, an Opti Strike salmon reel, the traditional sponsors bottle of Clynelish and a selection of our best salmon flies go to the captor. This year there is also an additional trophy donated by Mick Buttery for the first fish caught on the Association water and the Thyme and Plaice restaurant are adding another bottle of Clynelish to that prize. Bacon rolls will be hot on the go from 8 am each morning at Thyme & Plaice opposite Helmsdale Co and they will be open late all week along with the Belgrave Arms, Bannockburn Inn and La Mirage. We are all set for a fantastic week. Check out Rons latest YouTube river preview right here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pss2a25nKfg

There has been an awakening in the North!, the first of our spring fly boards is now on display in the shop and with 8 days to go the excitement is growing to fever pitch, more to come tomorrow with the latest detailed fishing report.