Archive

29

March

Good week on the Helmsdale

The Helmsdale had another good week with a great start with 5 off on Monday, 3 caught by Torrish rods on beat 6 and that man Andy (Torrish) Sutherland just keeps catching  landing another 2 after 5pm on beat 6 Monday. His famous Black & Yellow Torrish conehead ( designed and tied by us ) bagged both with the river at just 9” in Little Rock pool & Swirl. our flies were also feeding springers on other beats too, Regular visitor Kevin Steel also for off to a fast start charming out lovely fish from beat 5 & 4 on one of our classic Alistair Coneheads. It turned out to be a very decent week considering how unsettled the river became culminating in a dirty 2ft on Saturday. The total was still over a dozen.

You can buy both the flies above from the links below at the photos.

Next week should give the first fish or two above the falls as recent temps have surely encouraged a push over the falls of Kildonan. This is when 4 rods per beat would be a great idea as all of a sudden there becomes loads of fishing available on 2 beats ( above and below the falls ) that can only be very lightly covered by just 2 rods. Personally my feeling is if the river goes above a certain height then a 4 rod option or even 3 rod option could be permitted especially in these days of C & R and single & double hooks mostly being used.

Anyway….check out the flies that were catching on the Helmsdale last week below, and ofcourse, you can buy them right here amongst our huge range of standard and unique RS flies -

Kevin Steel with one of his fish from beat 4 Dempsters pool on the Classic Alistair conehead.

One of Kevs 2 sparkling springers last week and if you look closely under the back end of the fish you will see our Classic Alistair conehead.

Our range of mega popular Classic Alistair coneheads which you can buy right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-alistair-original-conehead.html

The deadly Black & Yellow UV Andy Torrish conehead which took 2 from beat 6 in an hour, grab some right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-andy-torrish-uv-black-yellow-conehead 

 A few more 0.5 & 0.75"

22

March

RS Monkeys on top form!

There were around a 6 fish off the Helmsdale up until Friday last week Andy Sutherland and Corrie Cormack picking up 2 for Torrish rods on beat 5 & 6. Most days were better for sunbathing than fishing and the river was quite unsettled early in the week. Andy caught his fish on a big Monkey in the evening in the boils above the Jetty, the monkey fly just keeps catching all over the place so on that note below is a snippet of just how well the fly is working.

I had some nice feedback from experienced travelling salmon angler Bjorn Arne Riise on his 3 Naver salmon last week ( maybe  more on Saturday ) which were also caught on our RS Black & Yellow UV Solar Monkey. grab some here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-rs-black-yellow-solar-monkey

It’s always great to receive feedback like this, we are getting used to it, well done indeed to Bjorn and many thanks for the news. Pics below…uploading

A delighted Bjorn with one of his 3 fish on our Solar Monkey tube

The Monkey tube below with tube double on his rod.

A better look at the actual stunning fly ( this one with natural Junglecock )

And this one with Semperfli Synthetic junglecock which is becoming more and more popular as the fish dont seen to care! If you have a preference please let us know when you place an order in the "comments" section and we will tie the type you want. Please state "Natural" or "Synthetic" you can order right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-rs-black-yellow-solar-monkey

And another...

And another from Bjorn, all on the Black & Yellow RS UV Solar Monkey

15

March

Our flies are catching!

The spring fishing is certainly going encouragingly well with lovely springers being reported from many rivers. Fortunately for us many are getting caught on our RS flies. Some fine feedback below from successful anglers recently. These are just from the river Spey below, Well done guys and many thanks for letting us know how well the flies are working.

The Helmsdale continues to pick away and roughly 8 have been caught with 5 coming from the rod of Andy Sutherland. A good recent rise in water levels should bring more fish into the system so a pickup in action is highly probable. The latest fish off was a 20 pounder on beat 6.

James Simpson on Delfur Spey ( RS Black & yellow UV Solar Monkey ) his second fish on this fly for 2026. Grab some right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-rs-black-yellow-solar-monkey

Robbie Milne, Orton water, Spey. RS Black & Yellow SuperSquid Conehead. Grab some right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-supersquid-blk/yellow-tung-conehead.html

Chris Blake, Tulchan water, Spey, their first fish of the season. RS Firetail Cascade. Grab some right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-cascade-firetail.html

2

March

4 off the Helmsdale.

Well its definitely a better start to the season than last year, that’s for sure. The Northern rivers however are just picking away apart from the Brora which has recorded 7 so far mainly off the lower river, excellent stuff! Andy Sutherland caught No 4 ( his 3rd ) off the Helmsdale from beat 1 St John’s pool at 12lbs.  

Around the country there are continual reports of lovely fresh springers coming off so it’s well worth a cast now and as you know, we have the proven flies that will catch you that iconic springer.

You will see some of our latest flies on our homepage but here ( below ) are a couple of stunning new additions for later in the season. The first is one of our most recent new RS designs for spring as a conehead and big copper tube, the Tomic Monkey, it’s been an absolute cracker and had a superb season last year in the spring and big water in the autumn. So, it had to happen, we had to migrate this fab pattern onto double hook for late spring and summer fishing, we think the resulting fly looks superb and we now have it online for the first time right here in 6, 8 & 10s on Partridge Patriot doubles.

RS UV Pink Tomic Monkey double - available right here exclusively to click & buy now - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-uv-pink-tomic-monkey-patriot-double

RS UV Brora Willie Gunn original, below is the tiny 1/2" and a 3'4" available now in these new smaller sizes. Stunning proven tubes for fishing anywhere.

Buy them right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-uv-original-brora-willie-gunn-gold-conehead.