Every year Helmsdale Co run a competition for guessing the pool which will produce the first springer of the season. It's usually done on the Tackle shop counter via a lucky dip draw. This time round we are cranking up the competition and changing the format in aid of the Archie Foundation for children. I would ask that all anglers keen on a punt who recon they know their stuff should have a go. The cause is extremely worthwhile and in the end somebody is set to win a very very special prize. This time we want YOU to select the pool YOU think will give the first fish, if you select the fly too then you add a bonus to your prize. The competition will be run online and from the shop counter. Each week I will update the pools and bonus flies chosen on the Helmsdale Co fishing report. When the first fish is caught, the names against the correct pool will go into a draw in the shop and the winner will be drawn by the angler who catches the fish. All proceeds will go to the Archie Foundation and the winning ticket will scoop a superb quality prize from the following equipment (Loop Salmon rod, Simms Primaloft fishing jacket, Mackenzie DTX spey intermediate line, Gaelforce floating shooting head line, Carron Jetstream sinking, £100 worth of salmon flies, together a huge prize worth in excess of £1000 and all for just a £5 stake or any donation above. This gear is the best of the best and is well worth winning. Please post your pool, name and contact number by telephone or via the Just Giving page here - http://www.justgiving.com/Ronald-Sutherland You can also drop into the Tackle shop to enter in Helmsdale. Someone is going to be very happy with this awesome prize!
Incidentally, the captor of the first fish wins all the usual spoils of the Bridge Hotel Trophy, A bottle of Clynelish Whisky, a selection of our deadliest Flies and this time round a superb Simms primaloft lined GoreTex wading jacket or Loop Rod. All eyes on the Helmsdale river January 11th, if you are the only person to pick the correct pool you win outright. Good luck! Please share and have a go, all Helmsdale pools are listed on the Just Giving page and below.

Please select from the following pools.

We are now taking Christmas orders for our hugely popular range of personalised Glenmuir cashmere and lambswool sweaters made in Scotland. Embroidered text of your choice left/right arm or chest position with 30 characters maximum, Crew or V neck. Drop us an email or call us on 01431821372 to order. These sweaters are top quality and perfect for fishing, shooting, golfing etc. Prices from £64.95 for lambswool, ladies or gents in a large range of colours.

We also have great end of season deals on Loop Lainio & Simms jackets, call us for details or pre-order best price gear for next season.

The final catch stats are not quite yet in hand but I would make a calculated guess based on ghillie feedback at a figure of around 1500 fish caught over the whole river. That might not sound great or too bad but it is encouraging non the less. One of the main factors at work this season seemed to be the sheer amount of new rods/tennants on the river who were first timers and inexperienced salmon anglers to boot. I heard many instances of "there were plenty of fish around but we couldn't cover or catch them!" The spring was modern day normal with rods having to work hard for a fish. May and June saw a good strong run of msw salmon. The July grilse run was sporadic and well spread out but not heavy on numbers. June was one of the best for seatrout on the Association water for years. Water fell away throughout August and September and the season closed with a week of unseasonable bright sunshine and low water.

The rains have now arrived however and brood stock fishing should be fast and furious as the the river appears well stocked. The SG have stepped back from issuing kill licenses and carcass tagging in rivers it would seem so panic over! the whole gambit was a step too far on the face of it and nobody could quite work out how tags were going to be issued fairly. Another consultation is under way to refine the whole subject. Also on the positive side was the zoning of new areas of conservation whereby rivers and districts were categorised as being in Cat 1, 2 or 3. Cat 1 is the top C & R of 80% and above which is where the Helmsdale sits. Cat 2 is between 60 & 80% and Cat 3 is less than 60% C & R. Basically this means that Cat 1 rivers will be almost left alone to keep up the good work, Cat 2 rivers will need to do better and produce a conservation plan and Cat 3 rivers will need to produce a conservation plan and go on mandatory C & R all methods for 1 year.

The review is not finished with us yet....Sunday fishing, rod licenses etc are still all out there for consultation amongst other ideas, so keep your eye on the ball!

Some random pics from the season and some of the deadly flies you need to catch those autumn fish right up until the end of November on the Tweed.

The first pool on the Helmsdale, the Sea pool if you have never seen it before, between the two bridges.

A typical Helmsdale springer courtesy of Gavin Perry, Wales.

This is how we deal with seatrout on the Helmsdale in summer now! introducing my friend and Sushi expert Adam Macdonald!

Kids on a real team effort during the seatrout run in Well pool Association water, April Sutherland, Annabel and Isla Macdonald showing how its done.

A lovely shot from the Brora early morning at Ford pool.

One of our new deadly Spring flies, the Blue Ass Willie Gunn which netted the first springer first swim on the Association water this year for myself.

These are the flies you need for the spate water coming after the rain which arrived in buckets today. RS Superkrill. Buy here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-superkrill.html

RS SuperSnaelda red/gold conehead. Buy here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-super-snaelda-red-gold.html

RS Hot orange Solar Monkey. Buy here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-super-snaelda-red-gold.html

RS Feeler Red/Black. Buy here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/feeler-black-red-rs-innovation.html

We have many more great flies to choose from so have a good look around the site and get yourself stocked up for autumn here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/

We also have a new shop category onboard, Hoggs of Fife. We will be adding a good range of products to this new category weekly as Hoggs are well known for quality at reasonable prices, guys can do some Christmas shopping! some nice country tweeds and shirts for the ladies and some good gear for the gents, The Brora shooting jacket being one of the new lines! You can start shopping online right here and view some of our first Hoggs products. - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/hoggs-of-fife.html