Here is the latest deal from us (below) we have sent it out to our entire customer base so you have probably seen it already.....but if not, please feel free to take advantage.

Incedentally the Helmsdale is up to 6 fish off with the latest being Andy Sutherland with a 12 pounder from the Flat pool on the Association water. An RS Gold Bodied Willie gunn did the job.

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Hi there..
We have introduced our 3 + 1 fly deal once again and we are running it for the next 6 weeks as it was so successful last spring, ( we like to give something back for your support ).

The hottest spring flies this year are without doubt the following.

Alistair Tigertail - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/tiger-tail-alistair-copper-tube.html
Classic Dee Monkey - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/classic-dee-monkey-silver-conehead.html
Grizzle Monkey - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/grizzle-monkey-pro-choice.html
Willie Gunn Grizzle Monkey - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-willie-gunn-grizzle-monkey.html
RS SuperSnaelda - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-super-snaelda-cascade-c/h-pro-choice.html
Feeler UV Willie Gunn conehead & copper tube - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/feeler-uv-willie-gunn-copper-tube.html

The latest "insider fly" doing very well from current feedback on many rivers is the new Kinermony SuperSquid in the bigger sizes, an absolute cracker! - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-rs-supersquid-kinermony.html ( pic attached )

I hope you manage to find what you are looking for, if not please tell us if "out of stock" flies are required.
We also hope to restock on many more of our best very soon.

We have lots of tube doubles and trebles + Seaguar Fluro & Maxima Nylon - and the super popular Gaelforce lines and sinking polytips to get these flies down in front of those priceless spring salmon.

Tight lines & thanks for your time.

As far as I know there have been no more fish off the Helmsdale apart from 2, the North is generally quiet with 2 off the Brora and the Naver simmering on 5.

The highlight of the week came once again from that man Andy Sutherland, this time on his latest visit to the Dee at Lower Crathes & West Durris. The Dee is not the deepest river in the world and fish will come for the fly almost every month of the year so long as they see it. The river was not high so Andy was immediately thinking full floating line and sinking tip should suffice. A superslick new Gaelforce Equalizer Spey 63ft floating head line was purchesed from Helmsdale Co with a selection of sinking tips. Grizzle Monkey was the fly deployed and the rest as they say is history! Check out the bruising 20 pounder released below. But, that was not the end of the days sport on the beat, his fishing partner for the visit was Corrie Cormack who incredibly matched the feat by landing another 20 pounder on the day, Corrie was using an Alistair Tiger Tail which, incedentally, caught the first fish on the Helmsdale this year.

The links to both flies are below which you can add to your collection anytime. These tubes continue to prove their worth so you could do a lot worse than grab a few for your own box, they are catching spring salmon right now!

http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/grizzle-monkey-pro-choice.html

http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/tiger-tail-alistair-copper-tube.html

The Gaelforce brand continues to really impress and there is a line for everyone, the floating lines are a dream to cast and are very clearly integrated into floating running line which is easily managed, view them on the link below, if you fancy one just hit the button and order one, you won't regret it! - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/gaelforce-equalizer-spey-line-pro-choice.html

Andy with his blistering 20lbs springer.

The deadly blue Grizzle Monkey.

The Alistair Tigertail which just keeps catching spring salmon everywhere!

And never forget the power of the Cascade Shrimp...these also keep catching salmon all over the world, we have them in 2 very handy spring sizes in this cracking conehead design 1" & 1.5" right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/cascade-conehead.html

New Kildonan estate Ghillie John Young has caught the second fish off the Helmsdale after a rather slow start. The 10 pounder was caught on Lower Caen beat 1. The river Spey had 2 on opening day (Sat 11th) one from Rothes and the other at Arndilly.

last week the Dee reported 34, Tay 26 and Tweed 14. Today I hear there have been 2 x 20lbs fish of Lower Crathes & West Durris courtesy of Andy Sutherland (Helmsdale) & Corrie Cormack (Wick) on our new Grizzle Monkeys - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-willie-gunn-grizzle-monkey.html

These flies are catching some super fish and will go on catching right through the spring and onwards abroad in Russia Norway and Iceland from May through to September - be a VERY good idea to grab some while they are in stock! -

Fish them with Gaelforce sinking poly tips from a full floating line in 7, 3.9 & 2.6ips for best results or loop up to full sinking heads if the water is high...http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/gaelforce-fly-fishing-spey-tapered-poly-leader.html

Also we have the best new rods in stock from Gaelforce & Loop in 4 & 6 piece perfect for trips abroad or UK plus the Full range of G2 Loop Evotec salmon reels check them out from our homepage and call me for any advice required.

Don't forget the deadly Monkey Conehead either and our new Posh Tosh conehead below - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/posh-tosh-conehead-1-pro-choice.html

We are ordering from Simms & Loop, does anyone need sparkling new Gore-tex waders or jackets from Simms for the season ahead?
Loop also have the new Q series rods in stock at 13'2 & 15ft and a full range of very cool clothing. Don't forget the powerhouse and lightweight Cross S1 which I use myself (and will not part with) in 13. 14, & 15ft

Loop gear - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/loop-tackle.html
Simms gear - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/simms-gear.html

Best prices and free flies all part of the deal as per usual.

Fly fishing is an absolute pleasure catching or not, enjoy it to the max - why not treat yourself!

Check out the absolute Helmsdale Co killers people are ordering from us every day! below, you can order them all and many more by clicking right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/

If you are fishing for spring salmon this season why not try a 10ft Gaelforce tapered sinking Poly leader looped up to the favoured Maxima 15 - 18lbs Chameleon nylon and hooked up to an Alistair TigerTail, RS SuperSnaelda or Monkey Tube?

Nothing could be easier if you have a floating line....you can control the speed of fly swing perfectly by mending the line upstream if the current is strong or mending towards your own bank if the flow is slow. Either way your fly will be sinking into the danger zone for spring salmon and that incredible unmistakable pull that we all spend hours searching for.

The first spring salmon on the Helmsdale was once again caught in January on a full floating line with sinking poly leader, 18lbs maxima and 1" RS TigerTail copper tube.

I am thinking about holding a spring salmon fishing Masterclass featuring the legend himself Andy Sutherland if I can persuade him!, I don't know anyone who has sniffed out as many spring salmon as he has so a Masterclass would be very interesting indeed! if anyone is interested let me know and it may happen someday.

Links to all of the above accessories are right here (below) if you fancy using a proven setup.

Gaelforce sinking Poly leaders - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/gaelforce-fly-fishing-spey-tapered-poly-leader.html
Maxima Chameleon nylon - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/maxima-chameleon.html
RS Alistair Tigertail 1" copper tube - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/tiger-tail-alistair-copper-tube.html
RS SuperSnaelda conehead - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-super-snaelda-cascade-c/h-pro-choice.html
Classic Dee monkey Conehead - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/classic-dee-monkey-silver-conehead.html

Tight lines

The first fish is off and it was that man Andy Sutherland once again. The first springer of the season was a lovely fresh 9 pounder caught and released in the swirl pool beat 6. Andy left it late in the day as he was at sea but the draw of the river and a couple of hours fishing before darkness was just enough to lure him up to beat 6. The best of the beat was covered quickly and it did not take long for the line to tighten. The river was around 10" and Andy was using a floating line looped to a 6ft Rio fast sinking tip. The fly was the same one he caught the first fish with a couple of years ago in Salscraggie beat 1,  RS Alistair TigerTail 1" copper tube designed by yours truly....and you can stock up on them by clicking right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/tiger-tail-alistair-copper-tube.html

Apologies for the poor picture quality but as you can see, the fish is a cracking bar of silver.

Lovely deep fish returned.

The deadly Alistair Tigertail just keeps catching spring salmon.  Click here to buy it now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/tiger-tail-alistair-copper-tube.html

The 10 free opening days are over and no fresh springers have been landed. Conditions have generally been decent and from midweek last week almost perfect. Experienced local John (Hardy) Sutherland has covered the water well on a daily basis picking up 2 baggots and a rawner plus numerous kelts but the first sea-liced springer still remains elusive after the efforts of over 150 anglers. The opening 10 days were a success for the village once again, the load was spread well and the river never too busy apart from opening day.

With the rest of the UK rivers opening very soon its a good time to get your fly orders in, The Dee, Tweed & Brora are due to open next week so grab as many Monkey's & Willie Gunns as you can, if the rivers are reasonably low just pop on a loop to loop sinking tip in 10ft or 6, we have plenty to chose from and the popular Maxima Chameleon nylon in BS up to 20lbs. We also have some great new flies available plus all the favourites, check them out below, you can start ordering with one easy click right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/

Kamasan tube trebles, Loop tube doubles, Owner cutting point tube trebles doubles and singles are all available also - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/hooks.html

Loop Q series rods are now available in the UK, read our Oct 2nd 2016 report for details of these cracking rods at a superb price in 15 & 13ft 2. There is a lot of interest in these rods so place your orders very soon as they are sure to run out.

Kinermony Pot Bellied Pig - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/kinermony-killer-pro-choice.html

Cascade Wilie gunn gold in 6, 8 & 10s - buy here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/cascade-willie-gunn-gold.html

 

Willie Gunn grizzle Monkey - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/new-willie-gunn-grizzle-monkey.html

Flamethrower Conehead - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/flamethrower-conehead-red.html

Rio and Gaelforce have a good range of Sinking tips - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rio-versi-leaders-sink-tips-10ft.html

The Helmsdale opened in a blaze of winter, conditions eased on Saturday but still no springers to be seen. Around 150 brave souls registered for a cast over the first 4 days. The water was well covered with every conceivable fly and line combo but only kelts were responding. Local favourite to sniff one out, Andy Sutherland, methodically picked his way through all his secret hot spots but still had nothing to show for it. Regular visitor David Baird and his team had a great few days bending the rod many times in expectation but all were models from last year unfortunately. Personally I fished all the best spots also along with my partner Donna but only kelts and brown trout were interested. I may return in the week ahead as conditions are set to get much warmer as you can see from the forecast.

 

If you want my advice of 40 years fishing for these priceless early runners then bag up on Willie Gunn copper tubes in any combination of Feeler, Gold Body, Classic or conehead. The Willie Gunn is simply unbeatable, aside from those the more modern Dee Monkey would be my second choice closely followed by the RS SuperSnaelda in Willie Gunn, Cascade or Black & Yellow. These patterns will ensure you have a great chance of catching spring salmon, trust me, they have caught thousands of springers all over the Northern hemisphere let alone Scotland, click here for our full selection of spring tubes, hooks, sinking tips, rods & reels. If you want any advice on buying gear/flies please feel free to contact me direct on 01343 870158

A few pics from the opening days.

RS UV Feeler Willie Gunn - click & buy now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/feeler-uv-willie-gunn-copper-tube.html

RS SuperSnaelds Black & Yellow - click & buy here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-supersnaelda-black-yellow-rons-pro-choice.html

Dee Monkey - click & buy here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/classic-dee-monkey-silver-conehead.html

Davie Baird returning one of many kelts on beat 5.

Donna Alcock returning a kelt on Kilphedir pool beat 2 in weather standard for days 2 & 3.

Jordan Marshall launching the first cast of 2017 closely watched by Sir Michael Wigan.

Ron Sutherland returning another kelt on the Dee Monkey, they were hammering it all over the river.

Glorious weather window on Upper Torrish beat 3.

Sutherland Schools Pipe band braving the storm on opening day, hats off to daughter April and the gang.

Fish on for Donna on beat 4 in yet another blizzard.

 

 

 

 

uploading.....

No fresh fish reported on day 2 as far as I know but plenty kelts. Conditions were better as the high winds dropped but heavy snow kicked in as the day progressed. Tomorrow the river should be in great order at around 1ft 6, get the rods out!

Winter bared it's teeth for the first time yesterday as the Helmsdale river opened amidst gales and snow showers. As per usual the Sutherland schools pipe band provided the entertainment but their performance was pushed to the limit by vicious weather. Local junior angler Jordan Marshal had the honour of casting the first fly of the season and he set things rolling in style. Unfortunately the river was in rising mode all day as it crept up to around 3ft from 9" the day before. The unsettled conditions offered little chance of a fresh fish and only a few kelts were reported by the hardy anglers who battled the high winds. Today, Thursday, heavy snow has changed the whole scene but the river is dropping so chances are much better.. 100 anglers checked in for opening day.