It's tough work finding positives when it comes to fishing reports this season but we are all getting used to it...the river gave up around 30 hard fought fish last week due to the dexterity of some very keen anglers. Low water prevails and the river has finally succumbed to the ravaging lack of rain as compensation water runs out. Longstanding ghillies report that they have never witnessed such a low river in their lifetime, par for the course I guess this season. Next spate will be a bonanza but will it happen soon enough? Light tackle, micro flies and a wiley approach are the tactics.....all part of the craft! We have all the micro flies required (see below ) and our absolute best selection can be purchased right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/deadly-rs-micro-tubes-pro-choice.html

We have another superb batch of "New Collection" flies in stock for you to enjoy, the quality is amazing and needs to be seen to be believed....most of the tubes are in 4 sizes and right down to amazing Micro's in 0.25 copper/tungsten and coneheads. Check out our new Ally monkey Micro below to give you an idea. Our new Solar Cascades are in stock, SuperSquid tubes and coneheads, SuperSnaeldas in micro coneheads and many more. See new collection here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-rs-collection.html

Some more of our micro tubes - grab the set of 10 for £35. The Allys Monkey at the bottom is teamed up with a Fulling Mill silver tube double size 12.

Another one of our new flies which is making the news on Speyside especially is the new RS Naked Kinermony in 10s & 12s. It is selling out fast so you should grab a few whan you have the chance! you can buy then right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-naked-kinermony-killer.html

Some of our other stunning new flies on offer, superb reds for the autumn.

RS SuperSquid tube red copper or tungsten

Rs SuperSquid rainbow coneheads

Rs SuperSquid Kinermony conehead.

New Zelda double

There are many more killers, have a good look through the New collection and seek out those stunning micro tubes too.

The river is still producing against all odds, there was a small weedy rise in the water at the weekend but it didn't exactly freshen up the glen. last weeks total was around 40. I am sure there is still better to come if the rainy season arrives before Sept 30th.

Our super popular 3 + 1 deal is still on and we don't care being blitzed! its little wonder as we have the best selection of quality salmon flies online, its that simple...for every 3 flies you buy, we add another killer free from our new collection if your order comes to more than £35. The pic below is a selection of free flies for one of our latest orders from a lucky customer - doesn't get much better as a fly deal, but your order does not need to just contain £35 of flies to qualify, pop in a sinking tip? or a zinger? or maybe a flybox or nylon? whatever comes to £35 or more gets free flies.

The river miraculously produced around 60 salmon last week in the continuing tough conditions. Locally Adam Macdonald, William Jappy and Richard Davidson were all fast out of the blocks with Monday fish on hitch flies and tiny tubes. Sport deteriorated as the week went on and rain is a must now....ofcourse, we have all the flies you need to catch in these testing conditions. Have you tried the Hitch fly? The Sunray Shadow?, the tungsten Frances on varying leader length? Tiny Singles flies, Micro tubes? these are just some of the tactics you need in low water, chucking in a size 10 Cascade aint going to cut it right now unless you are lucky enough to have caught some fresh water....trust me!

There are some great new Loop lines out now with integrated running lines which you can buy online right here in 8, 9 & 10# - Loop have always been at the cutting edge of tackle innovation and these new lines are no different! Hot off the press and super smooth integrated they shoot like a dream http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/loop-sds-tactical-salmon.html

Perfect timing to snap up our dream summer outfit on a Smash & Grab deal - our fave 13ft Loop Cross S1 combo with matching Loop reel & Gaelforce 8/9 line. Its time to treat yourself with the best, you are worth it! click here to grab it now as there is only 1 http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/loop-summer-smash-grab.html

Meanwhile on the river there were over 70 fish off last week and the Association water continues to fish quite well if you are prepared to get on the water early and fish late. Tiny flies are still the best option and hitch tubes are also catching. We have all the flies and gear you need right here so kit up and also tell your friends where you shop, it would be much appreciated

RS Baby Td tubes are still the outstanding fly across Scotland as far as we can see and we are having trouble keeping up with demand on them, probably because Ron just keeps designing amazing new options....as below.

Drought conditions are still plaguing the country and fly fishing continues to be challenging at best with low warm and slimy water facing anglers. However, as per usual the Helmsdale river has a rather unique knack of providing sport for the multitude of angling abilities who fish her. Around 65 salmon were reported for the week of the beats. The Association water is fishing well also as the low water suits it, get small flies and light tackle on and put in the time, you will definitely catch, and all for just £25 per rod per day. Grilse will run so long as their eyes remain sub surface so they will certainly enter rivers in the hours of darkness and under cloud cover during the day. They can then be caught once settled on micro flies of varying styles and colours.

The Helmsdale Company has everything you need to hook wary summer salmon and don't forget the seatrout! I have been fly fishing for over 40 years and I've yet to witness a better low water fly than the Baby TD ( designed by myself ). Temple Dog salmon tubes have an amazing presence in the water but although they have Scandinavian origins they travel very well indeed and are generally big tubes. in recent years I decided they required a huge downsize modification to initially suit the Helmsdale and then the whole Northern Hemisphere where they have been deadly over the last 15 years. This year they are performing like never before as the salmon season suffers the bleak extended spell of low water. Many anglers are using them to great effect on very light tackle all over Europe. Other flies of note right now are our Alistair hitch tubes and micro trebles and tubes. Keep your leaders light and long, try a dropper, sink a tiny conehead or tungsten micro frances fly if depth is sufficient...... There are fish to be caught if you are creative and stealthy in your approach, below are some of our deadliest patterns. pics uploading

Rons unique and deadly Baby TD tube

Alistair Hitch tube which can be fished as a micro tube conventionally or in deadly hitch mode

Micro Frances tubes 0.25" body

The fishing is not great anywhere right now but there are reports of fish "on the coast" at many locations around the UK. Perhaps most salmon are more comfortable wallowing in the cool sea temps rather than running the gauntlet of warm slimy oxygen depleted rivers, I know what I would do if I was a salmon!

So, a chance to top up with some of our great flies on a 3 + 1 deal as the best of the season may yet be about to happen, every season is different. This year was late on all accounts weather wise but, grilse were running early on many rivers, well before mid June when we traditionally start looking for them in earnest.

This special deal is slightly different from the usual in that your +1 free flies will all be selected by Ron from his New Collection, you won't be disappointed! so as usual, please select your flies in multiples of 3 and we will add the freebees so long as your order is for more than £35. You can start shopping right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/

Check out one of our new concept new collection flies below designed by Ron, the Naked Allys Shrimp showing two images of the same fly. Arguably one of the most effective salmon flies of all time now more durable and slick. Perfect for low water and we have more in the set all tied on top quality silver Partridge Patriot doubles. GRAB some in our 3 + 1 deal.

Same fly here nice and slick ready for fishing...

The conditions are getting tougher on the Helmsdale, barring a damaging flash flood and a small recent rise in the water its been a seriously dry summer so far. The sea trout anglers are scoring and the sport will continue so long as the water is low. Grilse and a sprinkling of salmon are being caught too ofcourse and around 50 were reported last week from the beats. The Association water is in prime time right now with seatrout and salmon fishing largely peaking between now and end July.

Here on Speyside water levels are also low but the fishing is also picking up and seatrout fishing is superb with many fish in the 5 - 12lbs range being reported from Pitcroy, Knocando etc

We are selling loads of small flies and tubes right now due to the low water so have a good look around the site and grab some wee doubles in 12s & 14s along with 1.4" tubes in plastic copper and tungsten which are all working in different depths of water and tactics. One surprise is how well one of our new flies is working for both salmon & seatrout - the Naked Kinermony killer picured below, its always been a great salmon fly but sea-trout seem to be hammering it from dusk to dawn. The lethal bright silver Patriot double is making sure most are sticking on! and I think the silver of the body is the buggest attraction, you can buy them right here ofcourse! - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-naked-kinermony-killer.html

The deadly Naked Kinermony killer is in 4 sizes, top grilse and sea-trout sizes 10s & 12s

Check out these amazing huge pieces of vintage monkey hair - the best we have ever seen...grab some now whan you have the chance right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/luxury-vintage-monkey.html

Storm Hector failed to produce a spate but it did not affect catches too much as the Helmsdale river produced around 45 fish. Grilse have arrived and hopefully the run will extend well into July. Grilse have also arrived on the Brora and most are in very good condition.

During my Brora week, low water dictated the tackle and small flies were a must, the RS SuperSquid micro, UV Alistairs and Baby TDs were very effective as usual. Loop Cross S1 rods in 10ft and 13 were the rods of choice, they are unrivalled for lightness and presentation, 12ft would have been ideal, I feel another purchase coming on!

Ron with one of many superbly conditioned Brora grilse which attacked his Alistair UV tube with the usual ferocity, click the link below to buy.

http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/alistair-original-uv.html

Donna with her biggest of the week, a 9 pounder Beech tree pool, Alistair UV conehead

Adam Macdonald grilse No 2 Ford pool, Baby TD

The Madman pool looking rather low

The tiny Style pool, one of the best low water chances on beat 1

Another torpedo grilse returned in Lower Fannich pool.

Check out our deadly Alistair TigerTail like you have never seen it before here - scroll down to the rotating model http://shadowflies.com/tungsten-tubes-uk-stock/3375-alistair-tigertail.html#/size-/wing-3_5 - You can buy them right here in tungsten or copper right down to 1/4", these have never been available before so small - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-alistair-tigertail-pro-choice.html

The Helmsdale struggled to produce last week but it was no surprise under the bright and hot conditions. The river was low and anglers fishing early & late did the most damage. I doubt if there were more than 20 off including the Association water as many rods blanked for the week. But, the river was blessed with 2ft of fresh water on Sunday so hopefully a great week ahead....

On a more positive not, we have added some more great looking flies to our New Collection especially the Naked Alistair gold Patriot doubles below, These are absolutely perfect for droppers on small rivers or a single fly and run on sizes 6, 8, 10 & 12. Grab some here whilst in stock! http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-naked-alistair-ghillies-choice.html

New RS Naked Alistair - no body, just the bright gold hook which adds maximin durability. Real JC and the award winning Patriot hook.

More from the classic naked range we have designed...staying ahead of the game with no compromise to fly profile, if anything we have enhanced them....we just await delivery of the Willie Gunn, the rest are in stock to snap up here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-rs-collection.html