Archive

21

March

The week opened with almost 4ft on the gauge ...

Ronald Sutherland

21/3/10

The week opened with almost 4ft on the gauge rendering the river almost un-fishable but conditions improved by Tuesday and fish were on the move. Andy Sutherland fishing the Torrish Rods had an early 10 pounder on the banks of Little Rock pool beat 6, an orange & black conehead Monkey did the trick. Another 3 fish were caught on Tuesday, Suisgill rods had 2 fish off beat 4 and one came off beat 2 for regular visitor Rik Marr fishing Kildonan rods.
Wednesday provided another 2 fresh fish and water temps were on the rise. Thursday and Friday offered one each day which increased the seasonal tally to 16. By close of play on Saturday the water temperature had risen to 44 degrees with a fresh North westerly wind (excellent fishing conditions you would think?) correct, Saturday was going to be a day to remember.
Torrish rods got off to a great start on beat 2 with a solid 14 pounder from the Private pool for Andy Sutherland on an Alistair tube, he improved his score soon after by landing a super 16 pounder from the Park pool on the same fly after loosing another fish minutes before. Corrie Cormack fishing the other Torrish rod then couldn’t believe his luck as he also hooked and landed a sea-liced 15 pounder from the Private pool. (All were safely returned).

Andy Sutherland returns a cracker from the park Pool

Bill Baxter landed a fish on beat 1 from the Viaduct pool fishing Badanloch rods and Borrobol Rods had one on beat 5. Just upstream on beat 6 things were disappointingly quiet for Suisgill rods until late in the day so William Jappy decided to take a hike above the falls of Kildonan to pass time in the Porters pool. With the water temp so high and the beat so quiet this was a sign that fish were beginning to ascend the falls and this was proved right when William landed an 8 pounder. Back below the falls to fish the best pools again and he landed another sea-liced fish in the Little Rock pool. A great day to be on the river if you were on the right beat and there are now 23 off after 15 this week.

The Helmsdale Tackle Co has a great fly offer on until the end of the month and you can purchase easily here on-line! 1 dozen Deadly Coneheads, Monkey, Mozzy & Temple Dog tubes at real discount prices and with a selection of doubles or trebles, please view this Special offer on http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=4 at the bottom of the page.
These tubes are perfect for late Spring, Summer & Autumn so stock up soon if you have a fishing trip planned. This superb offer runs until the end of March so get stuck in!

14

March

The last three weeks on the Helmsdale have produced the following scores ...

Ronald Sutherland

14/3/10

The last three weeks on the Helmsdale have produced the following scores - 2, 3, 2 a grand total of 7 springers for the season so far. William Jappy rounded off his week on Badanloch rods with an 8.5lbs fish from Salscraggie and I had the pleasure of hooking one in the Clay bank pool on beat 5 on Wednesday. The sea-liced fish weighed in at 8lbs and one of Helmsdale Co's new Flaming Temple Dog conehead tubes was the deadly fly! http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=872 The set up I now use is an absolute pleasure to fish also - Scott Mackenzie DTX 15ft, Carron Jetstream 65ft 10/11 head sinking Spey line. I have fished for many years with various tackle combo's and I have had much enjoyment watching my line shoot accross the river but fishing with the new DTX teamed up with either a Carron Jetstream or DTX Multi-tip line is amazing and takes fishing to a whole new level, casting technology at the very cutting edge and with a rod almost half the price of some of the more established brand names.

Nowadays with so few spring salmon around I get most of my pleasure on the river out of casting well and returning salmon – if I am lucky enough to land one!
Personally I would like to see ALL Helmsdale springers returned until we see an upturn in numbers again. If she aint swimming she aint spawning!!!

My first springer of 2010 below safely in the net ( New Lightweight Gye by Fastnet ).

Perfection - hooked in the scissors

The deadly 1.25" Flaming Temple Dog tungsten conehead

The Clay Bank hot spot down at the overhanging bush.

Returning the fish to fight another day.

6

March

Another 3 fish were taken on the Helmsdale this week.

Ronald Sutherland

6/2/10

Another 3 fish were taken on the Helmsdale this week. Achentoul rods had the first on beat one with Welshman Andrew Thomas hooking a 7lbs fish in the Marrel pool. This was followed the next day by Kildonan rods with a 7.5lbs fish from Salscraggie for Don Mackay ( who had the first fish on the Thurso ). Andrew's mate Allan had another fish for Achentoul on beat 5 from the Bridge pool at 5.5lbs and that was it for the week.

Conditions were not great and we could have done with a little more water but as I write today we have a big thaw on and the river is up to 3ft. There are sure to be more fish off next week as the weather forecast is settled and the water will be perfect - watch this space! 5 off the river now.

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