We have a fantastic longterm offer for you on flies this year, for every 3 flies you buy, we give you 1 free. Simply order multiples of 3 and we will select your free flies based on your order. If you would rather have different free flies, please let me know in the "comments" section when ordering and we will add those for you as instructed. We hope you enjoy this offer and make the most of it as we have some stunning new flies in stock as well as all the usual favourites.

There are still no fish reported off the river but few rods are venturing out due to the cold conditions. The river remains frost free however and just above freezing so there is a decent chance of a January fish when you consider that here are sea-liced fish being caught daily on the Tay which is running at a cool 36 degrees. 

I have just learned from Ghillie George Sutherland that Achentoul rods have kindly been officially offered free to local permit holders until Saturday February 7th with another Feb week possible later. Anyone interested in fishing these rods please book through the Tackle shop. The rotation starts on beat 1 Monday and ends beat 2 Saturday.

Here is one of our lethal best sellers exclusively designed by Ron, the RS Black & Yellow Mylar tube. These, as well as our Willie Gunn Mylars were hammering fish on the Dee last year when my friend Jim Fisher was outfishing absolutely everyone on the river!

A couple of Jim's power packed Dee springers from last year, Willie Gunn Mylar tube firmly attached and Black & yellow caught plenty also...you can buy them here right now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-willie-gunn-mylar-tube.html

Photo's courtecy of Jim Fisher.

167 keen anglers registered for the free fishing by the end of the week but no fresh fish were reported. The weather was against most of the time barring a calm day Wednesday and the river fluctuated between 5ft and 2ft. The water temperature was probably the biggest problem faced as it hovered close to freezing all week on 34 degrees whilst the sea temp was clocked at a smouldering 42. This will not exactly encourage springers to speed into the river but but one or two may creep up as far as the Flat pool on the Asssociation water or onto beat 1.

We have a "Buy 3 get 1 free" offer on flies right through the spring this year so nobody misses out! excluding Classic flies and Selection boxes. Please check out the sheer quality of our flies right here  -  http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/ Our Mylar tubes in particular are real killers as demonstrated by Jim Fisher on Deeside last year where he outfished all using them. The Willie Gunn and Black & Yellow versions below worked best. You can take advantage of our 3 + 1 offer to try them right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-black-yellow-mylar-tube.html

We have superb Hot NEW RS flies in stock her for spring also  - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/hot-new-rs-flies.html

RS Black & Yellow Mylar tube

RS Willie Gunn mylar tube

Kelts were caught but not in great numbers and a peculiar grilse caught by John Bell raised a few eyebrows. It had a tight vent, was fin perfect and it looked for all the world like a summer grilse. The verdict was a baggot (not spawned) which may have returned to the sea and decided to enter the river again after a few weeks which made it look so tide fresh, whatever it is, it is not a springer. (pic below)

Prospects are not amazing as the cold spell is set to continue BUT I would be confident fishing the Association water or beats 1 & 2. The first fish prize still awaits! Some pics from the week below.

The Association water is where you need to be and for only £25 per rod per day, its worth a punt right now, pensioners half price, under 16s free. Tickets available at Helmsdale Co Tackle shop or call us on 01431821372 to book and get the latest news.

Calum Gillies, Portree, returns a kelt in a snowstorm on beat 4.

Salscraggie pool getting well covered by anglers on both banks.

The scene from midweek looking down the glen towards the village from beat 2.

Here is one of our new flies based on the famous Tadpole fly so popular in the Highlands. Ron has modernised the design and shape to create a Monkey/TD style tube using the same successful colours. We have it available now in 0.5" & 1" in both copper and aluminium tubes. When the fish arrive this one will hammer them if its not sold out by then.....Click here to buy now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-tadpole-td-monkey.html

Wednesday saw a major improvement in the weather as you can see from the pics but the water temps slid back to only 34 degrees, thats just 2 degrees above freezing, air temp was 33. Today, (Thursday midday) the river has risen once again up to around 3ft and may keep rising as the rain is hammering down and snow is melting. The forecast is set to stay cold so the lower river will be the place to concentrate on.

Opening week free fishing is going well considering the unstable weather and 140 anglers have signed in so far. I expect another influx of anglers at the weekend so if you have not yet had a chuck, its time to get the fly in the water. Don't forget to take a camera as the first fish must be returned safely to the water after capture and a quick photograph. Good luck and remember we have a "Buy 3 get 1 free" on all flies right through the spring...excluding selections and classic flies. We will simply add your free flies based on your order unless you let us know what you want in the comments area.

Little Rock pool beat 6 in perfect condition yesterday.

The Manse pool beat 6 also looking superb.

No sign of a fish on our second day of the season here in the frozen North! The snow has well and truly moved in and temps only just hovered above freezing all day. Whiteout conditions pestered anglers at times but hopes were still high as the river remained clear and dropped back to a very accommodating 2ft. Unfortunately only kelts were showing an interest. Tomorrow is another day.

The RS Firetiger tube had the kelts buzzing....

Contemplating a cast on Upper Torrish in between blizzards!

The Helmsdale river opened today with a height of 4ft 6 on the guage, not the best and bordering on the unfishable. The weather was rough with high winds and wintry squalls and the Sutherland schools pipe band were advised to stay at home by Sir Michael Wigan. Pipe major Lee Bain was therefore sent to pipe us through the the opening ceremony and Alistair Jappy duly opend proceedings in front of a hardcore crowd of around 150 with 115 anglers registered in the opening day book - opening cast vid here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UElBuK4xfs

Opening day speech from Sir Michael Wigan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui1aHfTMQkA

The anglers who crossed the river and fished from the South bank had most success today but only with kelts mostly from Salscraggie and Kilphedir pools. No opening day fresh fish were reported. Prospects look much better for tomorrow as winds are to ease slightly and the river should drop.

Some Kilphedir pool action from the master himself, Andy Sutherland - this time the water height even beat the best! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ezGFgl6W30

A few pics, Alistair Jappy & Sir Michael Wigan prepare to open the river with our famous Sponsors malt, Clynelish.

Lone piper Lee Bain piping through the storm...

Andy Sutherland in full concentration on Kilphedir pool beat 2.

The tail of Kilphedir pool starting to look fishy.

Top end of Kilphedir pool looking rather rough as another heavy shower hammers down the Strath of Kildonan.

Sutherland Bros Ron & Andy strategising again but nothing to show for it apart from a bag of kelts!

Local fisherman Alistair Jappy will have the honour of casting the first fly of the new season tomorrow. Alistair has been invited to perform the opening cast on numerous occasions but his work at sea has usually rendered him unavailable. The river is looking perfect and today it is running at approx 2ft 6. We have a light dusting of snow on the ground but no ice and a clear running river.

Check out the latest vid here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhzoMbtG-S0

We also have a new fly category up and running with some hot new patterns http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/hot-new-rs-flies.html

And the bigger news is that we will be running a "Buy 3 get 1 free" on all flies apart from classics and selections for the whole spring! This is a fabulous long term offer and we hope you can take advantage of it over the longer term as we will probably extend this offer for the whole season if successful.

New RS FireTiger SuperSnaelda

New RS Blue Elver Monkey hooked up with an "Owner" Cutting point single hook, these are the best salmon tube singles on the market and are hugely popular on longwing tubes and on rivers where singles must be used. http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/owner-cutting-point-single-tube-hook.html

The river today at Salscraggie pool where the opening day first fish was landed last year by Andy Sutherland.

As the big Helmsdale river opening looms, the conditions could not be better. The river is currently running clear and absolutely ice free at about 2ft on the gauge. The forecast for the week ahead offers a mild West to South West airflow with a scattering of low pressure systems which will keep the river well topped up. I would guess at an opening day height of between 2 - 3 feet which will overindulge us on all our classic spring pools and from both banks.

Ron and daughter April Louise warming up some deadly flies for Opening day on our famous Salscraggie pool

Big flies will be the order of the day so get your orders into us for 1.5" and 2" copper and aluminium tubes and large coneheads, we also have a great selection of tungsten tubes perfect for early spring fishing. Better still, just come along to a week of absolutely free fishing. Register at the tackle shop from Sunday afternoon 2 pm until around 6 or pop in anytime Monday to Saturday from 9. we will be open from 8.30 on Opening day. I am booked for guiding from Monday to Wednesday currently so contact me if you need a helping hand later in the week, I'll take you through all the very best hot spots on some gorgeous water.

As usual, we have a cracking prize going to the lucky angler who catches the first clean fish of the season (and returns it) very important from now on! Make sure you have a camera as we all love to see a superb opening day springer on display. The Bridge Hotel crystal trophy, an Opti Strike salmon reel, the traditional sponsors bottle of Clynelish and a selection of our best salmon flies go to the captor. This year there is also an additional trophy donated by Mick Buttery for the first fish caught on the Association water and the Thyme and Plaice restaurant are adding another bottle of Clynelish to that prize. Bacon rolls will be hot on the go from 8 am each morning at Thyme & Plaice opposite Helmsdale Co and they will be open late all week along with the Belgrave Arms, Bannockburn Inn and La Mirage. We are all set for a fantastic week. Check out Rons latest YouTube river preview right here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pss2a25nKfg

There has been an awakening in the North!, the first of our spring fly boards is now on display in the shop and with 8 days to go the excitement is growing to fever pitch, more to come tomorrow with the latest detailed fishing report.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and we hope you have a prosperous & healthy New Year. Many thanks for supporting us, let's have a superb 2015!

Check out our latest RS Kola Tiger fly...we will have them on sale soon. I would advise you to pre-order on this one!

Its looking good for the big river Opening in just a couple of weeks. The long range weather forecast does not show anything to fear in particular. the river is running very well and temps are above average for the season. There is every chance that springers will be entering the river from now on so get your accom booked and get the rod out!

I will be offering guiding services this time round and I am booked for the first 3 days of the season, but, Thursday Friday & Saturday are still available. If you want to get right into the heat of the action I will take you through the cream of spring pools on the Helmsdale. Give me a call or email and ill book you in for a day or two. I will be fishing through the hot spots with you and ill only guide for 2 rods per day.

Don't forget to have a look back at our archive fishing reports to get a feel for what's coming up, We have some great video footage there also. On the tackle side make sure you grab some of our copper tubes and coneheads in 1.5 - 2". last years opening day fish fell to our RS Alistair tiger tail tube (below) order right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/tiger-tail-alistair-copper-tube.html

Also remember its easy now to sign into the Helmsdale Fishing Forum where all the insider chat is happening on the river. Its a place where people can have their say and engage with each other on many fishy topics. Massive change is on the way for fishery management, why not join the discussion and see how it may affect the Helmsdale river....

I was passed on this interesting link by a friend which shows what can happen to localised atlantic salmon stocks if managed properly and given a fair chance to flourish - http:// http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/news-archive/news/Pages/Atlantic-salmon-populations-%E2%80%98against-the-current%E2%80%99-in-the-northern-Baltic-Sea.aspx

Its time to start looking forward to the big opening of the new season, 5 weeks tomorrow we will be back on the water and searching the lower beats for the most priceless fish of them all, a January springer. I thought I would add a few pics to get you in the mood each week from now. I am also planning recording some short YouTube films from the banks of the classic pools which have provided us with the first fish of the season over the years. look out for them soon on here and facebook.

Orri Vigfusson mingles with the boys as anticipation builds.

As you may also know, there will be no killing of salmon in Scotland next season before April 1st. This directive has come from the Scottish Government and it has been welcomed by all. Catch & release is set to go even further in 2016 when a "kill license" will probably get the nod. This will stop the killing of all salmon in Scotland by anglers unless the river you are fishing has successfully applied to the SG for a license to kill a designated number for which tags will be issued.

Scott Mackenzie looks on as John Sweetman puts his new casting prowess to good use during the opening day Mackenzie Masterclass Kilphedir pool.

So, in order to claim the Bridge Hotel Trophy for landing the first fish next year, you better be prepared with a camera! and the photo needs to be good as it will go through a forensic inspection like no other! As usual there will be more goodies on offer including a top of the range Loop Opti Strike reel and a selection of best Helmsdale Co flies, not forgetting also a bottle of our sponsors finest dram, Clynelish. Mick Buttery has kindly donated a trophy for the first local to catch a fresh fish and this will accompany a £50 tackle voucher from Helmsdale Co.

Kilphedir pool on not such a good day!

Once the turkey is over, dust off your rod and get yourself up to the Helmsdale for the free opening week. Lets hope the weather holds and we can get a fly in the water. Today, the hilltops are white for the first time this winter and the weather is set to dump a load more snow on the hills during the coming week.

Beat 6, 200yds below the falls of Kildonan, this is our temperature barrier until around end March/early April.

Freezing fog at the mouth of the river.

A beautiful sea liced Opening day Helmsdale springer landed by Andy Sutherland on an RS Alistair TigerTail coppertube, Salscraggie pool.

The killer fly last year - RS Alistair TigerTail designed by Ron and now distributed worldwide by Fulling Mill, stock up on them now right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/tiger-tail-alistair-copper-tube.html

FLY BOGOF NOW CLOSED It was awesome, many thanks indeed.

Time is rolling on - Christmas hits us very soon and the River Opening is just around the corner so we have some great deals and gifts for you to pamper yourself or others.

These deals are online waiting for you to just hit the button! But don't hang around as they are not stacked high....

Shakespeare Oracle XT 14ft 4pc
Vision Deep Reel
Worcester DT MS line
Gelspun Backing
4 x FlyLeader
Poly tips x 3
FlyLeader/PolyTip Wallet
Total £259.48
--------------------
Christmas DEAL £199
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Greys 15ft 4pc
Hardy Marquis No 2
Mackenzie G2 line
Gelspun Backing
Poly tips x 3
4 x FlyLeader
FlyLeader/PolyTip Wallet
Total / 650.00
-------------------
Christmas DEAL £549
-------------------

Mackenzie Perflex 15ft 4pc
Pflueger Reel
Mackenzie G2 line
Sinking Poly tips x 3
Backing £10
4 x FlyLeader
FlyLeader/PolyTip Wallet
Total / £589.00.
-----------------
Christmas DEAL £499
-----------------

Mackenzie G2 15ft 4pc
Loop Evotec Colour Custom (green)
Mackenzie G2 Multitip
Gelspun backing
4 x FlyLeaders
FlyLeader/PolyTip Wallet
Total / £1249,00  
------------------
Christmas DEAL £999.00
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Ron's Spring ProTubes - Huge favourites of innovation and tradition in an unbeatable offer

24 tubes for only £49