Archive

We are letting our latest fly BOGOF run until the end of this week (Sunday) so fill up the coffers when you have the chance, don't forget to put Club Helmsdale BOGOF in the comments section and also please feel free to have a go on our new Helmsdale river Forum. Just sign in with a username, wait for authorisation and off you go!

Last week was a non event on the Helmsdale, probably 30 - 40 fish maximum. The water is still dropping and although there are lots of fish around they are not easily tempted. Anglers who are prepared to chop and change tactics are scoring better than most.

The Association water provided a handful of grilse for William & Alistair Jappy and David Melville landed a nice 8lbs fish. lots of fish around again but treasing them up to the fly is becoming a real challenge hence the lack of information for this latest report. Rain will change everything and we are all still hoping for that big flood to end the season with a bang!

We have upgraded some of our fly selections recently in time for the Christmas rush. Fly selections make grand stocking fillers so don't forget where to get them. Below is a hot one for female angling friends, the Pink Collection...we have many more.

The Pink Collection

Norwegian Selection

Norwegian Selection

Russian selection.

Russian selection

Another pic of our gorgeous new Alistair SuperSnaeldas below which you can now order anytime, call us or email. These will work brilliantly in coloured water.

Alistair SuperSnaeldas

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Latest river Report below. But fthis week the major highlight is a fly BOGOF on all flies available online - you must put "Club Helmsdale BOGOF" in the comments section when ordering to qualify or you will not receive the BOGOF. Please also call the shop if you prefer. This covers almost all flies apart from some of the Helmsdale Special flies like Alistairs and Red Alistairs which we have to tie to order.

Also we still have our handy tube vices at half price for Club Helmsdale members and we are starting a more interesting topic over on the new Club Forum. We are asking for views on the river rodding set up and whether or not you think there should be more rods available on the river. I have had countless anglers in the tackle shop who are less than impressed with the strict rodding regime. They said that the high price paid for the fishing should offer more flexibility so that Lodge parties can fully utilise the excellent fishing generally on offer. "Even if some of the kids could have a chuck with a trout rod whilst the adults were fishing" was one comment which stuck out...feel free to comment over on the Forum. Sign in with a username (wait to be authorised) and join the discussion...

We have given up on rain here and the fish are getting fed up also! The beats are struggling apart from odd days of success on the lower river and most of the fish have seen most of the flies and they are getting decidedly more difficult to excite! If the water cools down things may change as the spawning urge kicks in. A fair percentage of the fish being caught are still fresh salmon and there are more to come. Most rivers in the highlands are awash with fish waiting at the river mouths so I would predict good fishing to come yet providing we get a spate before the season comes to an end only 5 weeks from now.

The Association water produced around 5 fish towards the end of last week so maybe the water is indeed cooling down and freshening up.

One of our awesome new flies below is the Alistair SuperSnaelda hot on the back of the success of our worldwide killer RS SuperSnaelda. It should do the business on the Helmsdale for sure in coloured water. These can be tied to order once my arm is functioning normally again!

Alistair SuperSnaelda

Some pics of another first fish success on the Helmsdale last week courtesy of Badanloch rods.

On the afternoon of Friday 16th August, Jemima Landale caught her first salmon...and put her father, managing director of the top fly manufacturer Fulling Mill, to shame. Badanloch ghillie Alec Fraser had just taken Jemima into the head of the Oasis Pool on beat 3 (?) to teach her the basics of salmon fishing. The water was low and the sun was beating down – in short, not great salmon fishing conditions. “To be honest, I didn’t think we stood much a chance of catching a fish,” commented Alec. “I was all set for an afternoon of teaching Jemima and her younger brother Ottie to fish, when suddenly the line tightened. No one was more surprised than me!”  After 10 minutes and some wonderful runs, Jemima brought a 5 ½ lb cock fish to the net. The requisite photographs taken, the fish was returned to the river to continue its journey up the river. Jemima’s father proceeded to fish the rest of the day, but failed to match his daughter’s feat. So, another Helmsdale first and one that just goes to show that fishing is indeed a true leveller!

Fish on, steady as she goes.

Fish on

Almost there...

Almost there

Relief, fish in the bag.

In the bag

The prized first fish.

The first fish

Returned safely, job done and smiles all round.

Returned safely

18

August

Water running out fast!

Ronald Sutherland

The Helmsdale is running out of water and rain is now desperately required. last week still reported around 60 fish which is good going in the low clear conditions but with only approximately 6 weeks to go we need proper rain to really boost the season. The Association gave up very few but next spate and it will be the place to be so keep a close eye on the forecast.

I am struggling to type this week due to a rupture of my lefy bicep but hopefully things will improve with some rest and tlc, not so much fly-tying for a while but ill be designing plenty for inclusion next season.

Our fly BOGOF is still on with all the flies shown on the last 3 fishing reports and i am pleased to say that there has been excellent take up on joining the new exclusive Club Helmsdale setup. With the offers available to members it really is a no brainer + we have a Helmsdale river Forum which will gather pace as the nights get longer. We hope for some interesting discussion on there where members can talk freely about the river.

Once again we are offering a great deal on our tubefly vices for half price so call the shop and purchase one anytime. 

We have an interesting insight into the fulling Mill HQ in Kericho Kenya this week - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fvK-CCMMoc One of the best tiers over there ties one of our new Tiger Willie Gunn Coneheads, as you can see, he (Tadeo) is well in control of the situation, a great guy and a brilliantly talented fly tier, even under pressure!

Helmsdale hosted the annual Highland games this weekend and the North of Scotland open fly casting championships. Kildonan Ghillie Martin Grant won the salmon distance casting with a super cast of 159 feet. The rod used was the new Mackenzie DTX Perflex 15ft and our usual Carron Jetstream Competition line of 105ft head did the trick. The overall trophy went to head water bailiff Peter Quail who came second in the salmon casting but also won the trout accuracy and trout distance, Peters wife Mary-Anne won the Ladies open salmon casting to complete a fine double casting 91ft.

We were delighted to have Loop CEO Gordon Sim helping out this year again and he had a fine selection of the new Loop Cross S1 rods demonstrating their amazing 3M technology. Everyone who picked up one of these rods found it very difficult to put them down again, so light and powerful and casting the tightest loops with extreme accuracy. These rods are the new "must have" rods on the market and a Loop reel to balance offers anglers a very hi-spec outfit difficult to equal. Call us for the absolute best deals on these awesome rods and reels.

Some pics of the weekend games casting activities.

Gordon Sim demonstrating a Cross S1 in suitable attire!

Gordon Sim

Some of the Angling Club Boys running operations.

Angling club boys

Last years trout casting winner Pete Daniels

Pete Daniels

10

August

Slowing down now.

Ronald Sutherland

Things are slowing down here now after a pretty dour week. Once again the river has missed out on all the rain and has dropped as a result. Compensation water is running out and unless it rains very heavy very soon we are going to struggle on the fishing front. I would estimate between 50 & 60 fish are off including only a handfull off the Association water.

Borrobol Ghillie Glen Macdonald had an early fish on Monday morning from the local beat but Alistair Jappy had the best of it on Thursday catching 2 fresh grilse and rising lots on tiny tubes. Most of the grilse are still depressingly small for the time of year but there are still good numbers of fish around in the estuary and sea, the next spate should give the best week of the season.

We have added some more flies to our exclusive "buy one get one free" fly offer and they are listed below with a few pics. last weeks flies are also still included in the offer. Please state BOGOF FLIES in the comments section if you are ordering on-line so we know you are taking up the offer.

Black Brahan doubles, top sea-trout and salmon low water flies in 10,12, & 14s

Silver Shadow Shrimp doubles in 4, 6 & 8s

Yellow Shadow Shrimp doubles in sizes 6, 8 & 10s

Red Allys Shrimp trebles in sizes 10, 12 & 14s

RS Super Snaelda in 0.5" this is our best selling new fly all season at home in good water and abroad.

RS SuperSnaelda

RS Mosquito in 0.5" & 0.75, a deadly plastic TD style tube with innovative aerofoils and boar bristles. Fish these lightweight tubes on any sinking line or tip.

RS Mozzy

Our secret new flies this week are a selection of fabulous Alistairs in various shades and prefrences - everyone has their favourite tone and we can tie it up for you anytime in tube or conehead form. if you fancy another colour let us know - maybe green is worth a try? We will have these for sale to the general public next summer.

New Alistair selections

 

Please have a go on our Angling Forum and lets get some Helmsdale fishy discussion going, tell us your favourite pool? your best catch? or worst loss! just sign in and we will connect you asap.

Tight lines

 

 

4

August

Could be the big week

Ronald Sutherland

The river still gave up over 90 fish last week which was a great effort considering we missed out on all the rain again and could only muster a few mm. Badanloch rods headed by Ian Muir scored best with over 20 which was roughly the score from the Association water. 

Monday was a good day with 4 fish off early doors from the Jappy Twins, Jim Forsyth had the biggest fish of the week, a super 12 pounder with sea-lice from Roaries on a Cascade, John Sweetman and Adam Macdonald also both got in on the act. Tommy bird had 2 one afternoon and Peter Macmillan had his best week of the season with a handful of grilse. This will probably be the peak week unless we get water very soon but we would at least expect the fish to improve in size. last week saw many tiny grilse in the 2 - 3lbs bracket, surprising for early August. Daughter April Louise also had her first brownie on loch Fhearnan this week, A daddy longlegs did the trick fishing off the bank in her new waders!

Don't forget that we have an Angling Forum up and running now where you can post your fishing stories and start some interesting discussion on the Helmsdale river. I note that Suisgil Estate is back on the market for 7M, interesting topic to discuss maybe...

We still have a bogof on the flies from the previous report and will change this next week. The Simms wader deal is still up for grabs and we have a cracking deal on our tubefly vices which are reduced from £25 to half price for members here - please quote half price vise if you want to purchase one and call us to pay on 01431821372 - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1038

April with her first Brown trout, I think she is hooked as well as the trout!

April and first brownie

Jim with his 12 pounder

Jim Forsyth

John Sweetman with a nice 7 pounder

John fish

Yours truly with the wife and friends Adam & Mia Macdonald enjoying an evening on the Association water.

Adam & Mia

Our video of the week is this superb promo from Loop tackle on their new GDC shooting head lines - watch closely to see the unbelievable V-Loop rocketing across the river. http://vimeo.com/68340715