The season is rapidly turning to autumn and the Helmsdale river has eased off the gas on the scoring front. The summer salmon run has been good and now the fish are acclimatising which makes them a little more difficult to tempt. This is the time when all eyes start to look to red as the predominant colour in salmon fly offerings. It is common knowledge and backed up annually here by big sales of RS Red Alistairs, Red Frances and RS SuperSquid Ruby Red coneheads and the like. 

But, there is always a twist from the Helmsdale Company where Ron continually fast forwards the evolution of salmon flies and the 2 tubes you see below are just that.

We have "Solarised" the hugely popular Red Alistair conehead especially for tea stained water running off after a spate. This fly stands out so well and really catches the sun and the eye of salmon and seatrout. Fish them on sinking tips for best results or just off a full floater if the water is low. Obviously we highly recommend it, a beautifully toned conehead tube which now also adorns our almost electric edgebrite solar strip on its flanks.

Then we have our new RS Back Eyed Pig design, yes, Back eyed, which reverses the whole profile of a standard eyed tube fly. It is scary, confusing and thought provoking and catches LOTS of salmon, no more to be said other than you need some in your flybox!

2 Amazing RS salmon tubes again keeping you ahead of the curve...

New RS Back Eyed Pig. Click the link and buy it here now - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-back-eyed-pig-new-tungsten-tube

New Rs Solar Red Alistair, buy now right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-solar-red-alistair

This week we have a great deal on a wee stunner that you cannot buy anywhere else, the RS SuperSnaelda Cascade Micro. Also we have introduced another cracking deal on 4 SuperSnaelda in 4 sizes to get you going this autumn if you have not already tried them...( where have you been!) The deal consists of 4 of our best in the pic below (from top to bottom) RS SuperSnaelda Black & yellow 3/4", RS Cascade SuperSnaelda Cascade 1/2", RS SuperSnaelda Red Gold 1/4" and a FREE Micro Cascade SuperSnaelda.

Buy the Quattro set right here bagged or with tube doubles - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-supersnaelda-quattro

The Helmsdale fished quite well last week with beat 1 being the absolute hot spot. The river is full of fish after a great summer run so if you are lucky enough to be coming for a cast you should bag up on some of our great tactical fly deals.

Buy one get 1 free on our unique Micro SuperSnaelda right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-super-snaelda-cascade-c/h-pro-choice.html

I have fished for salmon for over 40 years on rivers all over the Northern hemisphere and seen most river conditions. Hot dry summers used to be the norm and when the fishing conditions were challenging with low warm clear water my “go to” fly was a tiny stoats tail, why? Because it worked, but how and why did it work? Well, salmon get spooked easily and in these low water conditions they become much more difficult to catch. The solution is to hide your presence from them.

On small and medium sized rivers you need to keep your profile low and back from the water with no disturbance what so ever, cast with precision and a very light touch, aim high with your follow through for delicate presentation and become invisible. Fish with tiny flies that simply arrive in their unsuspecting window of view without drama ir disturbance. If you can achieve this you will have success in drought and low water conditions and still catch them. As anglers we love a challenge and the flies you see, the “RS drought busters” will give you that success. These are micro flies at their very best with 2 deadly options, the plastic tube has a very light presentation which fish will see in the lowest and most clear of water, the conehead will sink immediately and get in front of fish much deeper where they can simply inhale. 

2 deadly flies with 2 options and the strategy to fish them.  Fish on a long  light leader no heavier than 8lbs breaking strain and lighter for the norm, grab some of these now and get that rod bent, you don’t need perfect conditions to hook up!

Flies come with the added option of micro trebles and you can buy them right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-drought-buster

Stop press......We have the Rs Willie Gunn Flaming Firetail on a "buy one get one free" this week which you can snap up right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-willie-gunn-firetail.html

The fishing on the Helmsdale has been steadybut not explosive recently as water falls away. The good news is that there are plenty fish in the river and this should hold the rest of the season in good stead - lots of fish still to be caught so keep your hooks sharpened if you have fishing booked.

RS Willie Gunn Flaming Firetail

So August can be a very exciting part of the season, many rivers have had the best of the summer run but fresh fish are still running with a bigger average size.

Growing up in the highlands of Scotland offered me an amazing selection of salmon fishing and memories are bountiful of great catches on a variety of rivers. Flies too have had wonderful variety over the years and have evolved with new materials, ideas and tactics, but there is one little cracker which stands out for me personally and I think many from the Highlands may recognise it.

A little bit of background information, I first came across it on the Thurso and Wick rivers where dark spate waters run, this was a killer fly for me and many others. I was so impressed with its performance that it wasn’t long before it became my “go to” fly as soon as the water was freshened up with that lovely peaty whisky tone after heavy rain. The fly? A Copper King. As to the inventor? I do not know but what a superb fly, so, I have decided to bring it back to life using the best new materials and hooks available using Loop, Partridge Patriot (red & gold) and Fulling Mill Magni gold doubles.

These are very special flies and I am now offering them in only limited edition selections similar to the one you can see below. Once re-launched I will take Copper King orders individually flies on preferred hooks but for the moment only selections are available for you to indulge in. If you want to bring back a little bit of deadly fly history then grab a selection as soon as you see them because they with disappear very fast! They will come bagged or boxed in a great little 4 x 3” waterproof pocket box.

Another exclusive from Helmsdale Company, click this link to ensure you are lucky enough to secure a selection - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-copper-king-limited-edition-set

The awesome RS Limited Edition Copper King set on Loop, Partridge and Fulling Mill Magni doubles

Boxed set

Loop double

Partridge Patriot red double

Patriot gold double