The fishing has slowed down a little due to the dry spell and the traditional blimp between spring and summer fishing. We are now on the lookout for grilse and seatrout along with some big summer salmon so it is still all good on the anticipation front. So with summer water temps kicking in this brings a whole new level to fly fishing. Salmon are super active in all aspects so the fly fisher needs to be on the same page of he wants to maximise his/her chances of success and we have all the flies you need.

From large Laerdal Sunray Shadow to micro hitch, we have them all and everything in between. Truth is, if you have a fishing trip coming up and you want to give yourself the best chance of it being successful then you need flies that are going to catch not just take up space in your flybox for the sake of it. Here at Helmsdale Company many we have proven flies that work and have done for years plus stunning new designs incorporating all the best of those killers with the addition of amazing new fly tying materials which take flies to a whole new level thanks to Ron’s relentless search for the deadliest salmon fly designs on the planet!

In the pics below you can see some and obviously we recommend you grab some so order in advance please so you get these amazing flies on time, all are online right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php any problems finding any of them please email us at enquiries@helmsdalecompany.com or follow and message us on Instagram or Facebook.

RS UV Solar Willie Dog ( one of our most super successful coneheads over the years in June & July upgraded to the stunning new model you see below )

RS Baby TD, another hugely successful tiny tubefly proven to catch salmon even before the light comes in if you are lucky enough to get on the water as the nighttime seatrout fishing fades out.

Another stunning new fly scaled down onto a Patriot double emanating from the huge success of our large spring Solar UV Monkey tubes.

Our lethal RS UV micro hitch tube, magical all summer for salmon and seatrout hitching or fishing conventional.

The new RS Stealth UV Solar Monkey 8mm tube, what a stunning summer tube...

A massive success last year when we unleashed this little cracker, the Rs UV Silver Stoat double.

Whatever you do, don't forget our two most popular summer tubefly sets below which are also available right now.

Rs Baby Td set

RS Summer SuperSquids

Tight lines

Ron

Hi there, summer is almost here and we have loads of superb trending flies, especially our new Summer RS UV Monkeys which are on our homepage for sale but here is yet another stunner for summer which will hammer salmon & sea-trout! The Monkey profile combined with our signature solar strip and UV in the hairwing and throat makes this fly a "must have". With just an 8mm body, this tube is set to take summer fishing by storm!

Just a quick snippet on the fishing side, the Helmsdale Association water is fishing great right now with 8 fish off up to 15lbs last week, grab your fishing tickets from Glencoast on the Main St and get the rod bent!

RS Stealth UV Solar Monkey which you can also purchase from our homepage on the link right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php

With size 12 Tube double

On the tying bench

Hi there everyone, here is one of Rons sensational new flies for the summer, the vid below says it all and these are new sizes on the amazing UV Solar Monkey that we have never had available before - simple, we can now use a very special fly at anytime of the season even in low water.

Available on 1/2" tubes and patriot doubles.

You can buy them right here from today but do not delay as the que will be VERY long!  - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php

There is not too much to say about the fishing this week, there have been a few hot spots but the weather has been too bright generally, time to focus on grabbing some of these stunning flies for summer!

But, Andy phillips is still catching on the Spey, Another Andy ( Sutherland ) is also catching on the Spey and it took one of our Sunray Tsunami tubes to tempt his fish, we will pop some back online this week!

Taymount is fishing very well it would seem and the general encouraging theme continues throughout the UK. Next rise in water levels will have a big impact and we will surely see some very large May salmon from our rivers.

Partnering with https://salmonfishingholidaysscotland.com/

So the RS Stealth Spring Cascade Conehead was designed 2 years ago by Ron and has been very popular in the spring mainly due to its 1” body 2.5” hairwing. We always enjoy getting feedback on our flies and this season has been particularly interesting, yes it’s been a better spring than 2025 water wise but salmon still need to be there to bring the fishing together. We have had lots of great feedback this season already that you would have seen in our fishing reports and on Socials but for the most recent, enter Andrew Phillips. Andy is now a season ticket holder on the Aberlour water which is very pleasing on the eye and positioned nicely on the middle Spey shall we say, especially for April springers but here is the point, Andy popped on one of our RS Stealth Spring Cascade coneheads a few days ago and has netted 4 superb fresh springers, one last week and 3 on the bounce this week in the evenings after work, that’s pretty fabulous results these days in anybodies book. Below are pics of the full range of the exact fly now available in smaller sizes and on Patriot doubles for the first time, well if they work so well in spring we are betting that summer salmon might be quite keen on hitting them too! Well done Andy and thank you for the reel & pic, looks like you might just have an exceptional season brewing.

Martin Kennedy has also been putting out RS UV Pearly Kitchen Sink ( Collobus range )  to good use too with another fine fish on our flies this time from Ballindalloch on the Spey, and another pic has just arrived from Shaun Maclean who has nailed a lovely springer on our Solar Monkey, well done guys, many thanks for the news and feedback, great to see.

The Northern rivers have all had their moments with good and bad days, let’s just say there are fish on the go but with the high pressure in charge the water is going to drop significantly but that’s no problem, scale down the tackle & fly sizes and off you go.

Now if you think the latest news is encouraging, wait until next week because you are going to be clicking buttons as quickly as possible when we launch our next fly but we have to catch-up on our existing orders first before we get blitzed out of the water so to speak.

Below, Andrew with his first of 4 springers on the Aberlour water Spey last week on our RS Stealth Cascade Conehead. We have a reel from Andrew on our facebook and Instagram pages now with the rest of the fish & fly pic which I cannot get to upload on here...you can follow us on both apps if you want to keep up on there too and see the reel.

You can buy the deadly fly Andy was using right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-stealth-cascade-conehead-pro-choice

The stunning range of RS Stealth Cascades now in smaller sizes for the first time just in time for summer.

Martin Kennedy shows off his cracking Ballindalloch fish on our RS UV Pearly Kitchen Sink Collobus Patriot double.

The deadly fly, grab some right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-pearly-uv-kitchen-sink-colobus-range

Same fly swimming, check out the tantalising UV in the long tail.

Shaun Maclean with his lovely fresh springer

And the fly needs no introduction - the RS UV Solar Monkey which is becoming a real legend. You know where to find them!

Partnering with https://salmonfishingholidaysscotland.com/

Unsettled conditions with high water most of last week caused a few problems for anglers far and wide but fish were still caught. Our flies continue to produce the goods with notable results for Jonny Gray with 2 beauties off the Findhorn Altyre beat early in the week both on our UV Cascade Alistair Conehead JC. Carron ghillie Finlay Maculloch also had an explosive double before breakfast landing 2 fiery fresh runners on one of our TD style Tadpole specials we tie for him, a deadly local fly in that area. And over on the Spey, Andrew Phillips got off the mark with a lovely fish in the Boat Pool Aberlour water, our Spring RS Stealth Cascade conehead was the fly.

Well done lads, we are delighted with the feedback and thank you for giving our flies a swim, keep up the good work.

The Helmsdale scored in the high teens and that man Andy Torrish was amongst the action once again with a lovely fish from beat 6 on a Black & Yellow Monkey Conehead. Pics all below.

With all the action happening this spring we are busier than ever so please order your flies well in advance to make sure you get them on time, thank you.

Click here to start ordering all your deadly flies - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php

Jonny with 2 chromers from Altyre, Findhorn on the same day.

Our deadly RS UV Cascade Alistair Conehead which helped him catch both.

One of Finlays 2 early morning fish from the Carron, Tadpole tube firmly inhaled.

His Special TD style Tadpole that we developed from the classic pattern using mobile fox in the hairwing, we think a UV version would be stunning...call to order or email. We will be putting a UV version online soon.

Andy Phillips first fish of the season from Aberlour water

His chosen fly and one of our coolest, the RS Stealth Spring Cascade which we often tie with a black extension tube which was the case on Andy's version.

Partnering  with https://salmonfishingholidaysscotland.com/

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"

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

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

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.

Andy Sutherland has once again landed the first fish of the season and it was caught on the Association water on the 10th of Feb Tuesday, a lovely fresh 9 pounder from the tailof the Flat pool, but, he went one better by landing the second fish of the season too from beat 1 Johns pool yesterday (14th) at 10lbs. A great start to the season for Andy. A Posh monkey tube with FL orange conehead did the trick for both and it shows that there are now definitely lovely fresh fish entering the river.

The Spey had 2 nice fish off on opening day (Wed 11th) both coming from the middle Spey area of Aberlour and there are more showing up on other rivers too since water levels are starting to settle. All in all it’s an encouraging sign and lots of anglers are getting out on the water, how do we know this? We are mega busy with fly orders! But there is always room for more as there is a long season ahead.

Many thanks to all and if you want to be kept up to date with offers and new flies etc please sign up to our newsletter right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/newsletter-registration.html

The star man himself with another first fish off the river.

Second cracking fish from Johns Pool beat 1