There were a handfull of salmon off the Helmsdale last week. Early and late was the key but things should change this week with the weather breaking up a little and rain forecast. Even wind with overcast skies will help. The good news is that the water temps have been cooling at night so the danger to fish is not nearly as severe as it could have been.

Ok, now to the exciting stuff. Our Rs UV range of micro tubes have been a huge success, they look stunning, they are catching and they have inspired another hugely exciting fly for summer, The RS UV SuperStoat Loop double. yes. tied on the class razor sharp up eye Loop double with the same ingredients as our UV micro tubes. Check them out below where there is a choice of FL red head or black head and only available in size 14s at the moment keeping on the micro theme, we may be forced to tie on Patriot doubles if we get lots of requests for bigger sizes. Just contact us.

RS UV SuperStoat Loop double - you can buy these stunning flies right here right now - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-uv-superstoat-loop-double

FL red head

Well it looks like the extreme drought conditions have finally resonated with river boards in the North and there are temporary fishing “shut downs” in operation. I have never witnessed this before but I cannot disagree with the decisions to protect salmon that are really struggling and diseased in many rivers. The season so far has been poor and this takes things to a whole new level. All being well the rains will come soon and fresh salmon will miraculously arrive as usual and we may end up with a decent summer of fishing, but, we cannot take too many more fishing extremes in the future or rods will just remain empty unless prices start dropping. There comes a point when the most avid angler will say “no” and decide that there are more interesting ways to spend a few days holiday.

Anyway, all this aside, we recently launched a hugely successful RS UV Micro Stoat tube to help combat the low water conditions. Since launch we have had amazing feedback on the tubes and requests for Hitch and conehead options. Well, we love a challenge here at Helmsdale Co as fly tweaking and designing is one of our best assets so we have created amazing new designs for both as you can see and buy below. We will offer the tubes individually or as a stunning tactical set of 3 with additional hooks if required. We are very excited about these as we know that salmon, grilse and seatrout will be hugely tempted especially if the water remains low.

But, please only fish for salmon if it makes sense right now.

RS UV Micro tubes set which you can buy right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-uv-micro-tubes-set-of-all-3

Hitch tube with Scandi silver treble size 16. This tube can also be fished conventionally for salmon & sea-trout. Buy here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-uv-hitch-tube-best-ever

RS UV Micro silver conehead - buy right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-uv-micro-silver-conehead

Water and fish are scarce and there is still no meaningful rain on the forecast. If there is worthwhile fishing to be had then fishing early & late with light tackle looks like the best chance of a hookup. And with a flick of the wrist we find ourselves in the mighty month of May already.

This magical month on the salmon calendar can mean many things. Fishing with the full classic floating line and lighter flies as salmon hit them on the surface. Fishing the big bold Sunray Shadow, again, on the surface where the takes can be explosive and heart stopping! Starting to hunt for seatrout which start entering rivers in better numbers. Unfortunately this season has been derailed early with the dry bright conditions and lack of snow to melt.

So, where are we now? Well, we have been fishing micro flies and floating lines for the past 2 months which is unheard of but we may as-well continue this tactic until we are forced to “normalise” if indeed rain eventually arrives and breathes much needed life back into our bleak looking rivers. But, there is a difference now from the earlier part of the season, sea-trout. I would personally concede that there is nothing more exciting that hooking a large angry sea-trout at dusk or in the dark on light tackle as these specimens have a flight plan like no other freshwater fish! They can spool you in an instant and be right back in front of you seconds later and in the air for most of their manic attempt to escape. All this can happen in a flash and be all over even quicker unless you are totally dialled on. So, that was just a 2 pounder, are you getting my drift? Prepare for war if you search for bigger fish and there will be plenty in the sea-trout hotspots of our rivers and estuaries. With these stunning fish in mind and now that they are going to be around I have designed what I think is our best ever micro tube for both salmon and seatrout.

I have fished for both extensively over the years and found what works best and usually that ultimate all rounder is a small silver Stoat style fly. If you use these at Dusk and Dawn you never know what you are going to hook as the fly appeals to both salmon and seatrout, well, this new design tied on a micro tube is our best micro tube ever and as soon as you see it you will see why, it has all the ingredients ( real JC and UV ) together that have caught me most of my salmon and seatrout in low water. This is the RS UV Stoat micro tube and it is going to be the “must have” tube this season if the water stays low or you are heading to fish Iceland. The tubes will come with treble and double options so you have the correct hook size.

This fly is going to be your best friend this season so order some as soon as possible as interest will be virally high on these little 10mm stunners. They are online now right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-uv-micro-stoat-salmon-seatrout.

The new RS UV Micro Stoat.

With Tube double size 12.

With Micto treble

Size 10mm body which tube double or treble will insert into.

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