As Opening Week of the 2015 season fast approaches with only around 9 weeks to go there are still a few rooms up for grabs in the Navidale Hotel and Belgrave Arms in Helmsdale, links below.

http://www.navidalehousehotel.co.uk/

http://www.belgravearmshotel.co.uk/

A lovely pic from Alan Bithell on Opening day this year looking East through Torrish estate and beat 2 of the lower Helmsdale, costal mist in the distance.

I am offering guiding services for the week for the first time and Thursday/Friday & Saturday of opening week are still available to book, contact me anytime for details and get your accom and guiding organised. As you know, the Helmsdale river is one the few rivers which offers the angler the chance to hook up with a rare January spring salmon and we landed 4 superb springers during opening week last season. I will be fishing along side and guiding you through the absolute best spring salmon pools on the river and giving you all the instruction and advise you need.

If you want to sample Scottish spring salmon fishing at its best under my watchful eye on some of the finest fly water in the UK please contact ASAP and get your place booked. January fishing is full of anticipation challenge and tradition - come along and sample it all in very relaxed form. Call me on 01431821372 or email enquiries@helmsdalecompany.com

You can check out all our previous opening day archives and last years opening day action by scrolling down this page link and using the archive on the left hand side of this page http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/fishing_report/index.php?ac=list&cat=0&m=1&y=2014

Forget about knots, loop up our great new FlyLeaders and take the hassle out of fishing on your own - This will be an expanding range so let us know if you want your favourite flies set up and ready to go. http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/leader-fly-attached.html

We are also open for custom orders again, this is your chance to get your favourite flies tied up for 2015 by Ron so please contact asap to get them on the list!

If you are heading to the Tweed for a last cast this season why not grab this lethal selection of new RS tubes. These are premium quality heavy hitters and will definitely deliver in the autumn if you fish them on sinking tips or full sinking lines. Gorgeous Golden Willie Gunns, beautiful Black & Yellows and devastating SuperSnaelda have all been given the RS makeover and now glow with the radiance of eyecatching mylar. Get these down to the fish and prime yourself for that heart stopping smash take! End your season on a high, grab these whilst we have them available. Exclusive to Helmsdale Co.

http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-mylar-tubes-pro-choice.html

The chat is hotting up on our Helmsdale River Forum with regard to the new Fisheries Review recommendations - Sunday fishing, Carcass tagging, new Boards etc - sign in and tell us what you think the new Helmsdale Board should look like!

If you are reading this for the first time after clicking on our website link you will have discovered that the Helmsdale Fishing Report now has instant access with an option to sign in to our River Helmsdale Fishing Forum or sign up for our occasional newsletter and offers.

It has been confirmed that the 2015 Helmsdale river opening will once again be offering free fishing for the week. Opening day will be on Monday Jan 12th up until and including Saturday 17th. I will be available for guiding and instruction on a daily basis throughout the week so please call to book on 01431821372 or email me on enquiries@helmsdalecompany.com.

Guiding on Jan 12th & 13th are now booked.

Fishery management in on the brink of fundamental change and I will be reporting on this regularly and linking to Facebook, Twitter etc. It is important that everyone with an interest in fishing and Scottish river management in general starts to discuss what's best going forward and the Helmsdale river news needs to be out there with the best of them. Society has moved on.....

The Freshwater Fisheries Review has now reported on it's findings, the full report and it's recommendations can be accessed here - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0046/00460195.pdf
Antiquated Freshwater Fisheries Management practice has been stripped back to the core from it's origins in the 1800s. Over the next few months the latest recommendations will be consulted on and become law soon after.

The review is extensive and basically sets out to modernise all aspects. Here are some of the headline recommendations.

1. Introduction of a National Rod license.
2. Abolishment of closed days ( for the first time Sunday salmon fishing in Scotland is recommended )
3. River Boards are to be completely redesigned into modern "Fishery Management Organisations" FMO's.
4. Catch & Release is to be introduced across the board with FMO's having to apply for a licence to kill any fish.
5. On successful application to kill salmon, tags will be issued for each fish.
6. Costal Netting Stations must also apply for a license to kill fish phased in over the next 2/3 years dependent on the scientific evidence of a sustainable harvest.
7. Artificial stocking will only take place under license and if exceptional circumstances relating to population sustainability justify such an intervention.

All in all a very progressive and challenging list of new recommendations for the running of Fisheries in Scotland from 2016 generally. Fish farming has not been part of this review unfortunately but I believe this will be consulted on and reviewed separately, hopefully sooner rather than later.

On a less complicated note, here is a new Alistair Pot Bellied Pig I have recently designed for fishing in the Highlands, it should work well if the success of the classic Alistair tube is anything to go by. I hope you like it, please contact me if you want some.

Some good chat on our Helmsdale river Forum - just "sign in" and have a go, lets hear your point of view on the river etc and meet some new fishing friends. Use the link at the top of the page on the left.

We are now taking orders for next year if you require any specific patterns tied up, call us and we can get your order in the system. Don't forget we are now Hardy dealers and can supply you with the full range of Hardy & Greys equipment.

The last 10 days of the season fizzled out rather quietly with around 40 - 50 fish being reported. Temperatures held up so the fish were never really switched into aggressive spawning mode. However, there was one highlight, Ian Muir had a super day on beat 1 fishing in classic Helmsdale dibbling mode for Kildonan rods and landing 7 for his efforts from Salscraggie through to Upper Caen. The setup was one of our micro Silver Stoat temple Dog tubes coupled up with a black & orange double on the dropper. Ian had lots of rises and action to both flies and enjoyed his day immensely.

Dibbling seems to be turning into a lost art these days. There was no more effective way to fish throughout the summer than to have your rod set up with a dropper of size 8 - 10 double and a small tube as the tail fly. The Megan plastic tube was the big killer generally with a shrimp style fly or Hairy Mary on the dropper. The big plus with this setup was that you could fish the fastest water very effectively by holding out the rod and controlling the pace of the fly yourself. Salmon love to rise to the dibbled fly even in the roughest water and of-course you could present 2 flies of varying colour and size to fish in quick succession maximising your chances. Fishing flat with one fly as so many do nowadays misses many chances of catching a fish. Generally the fly flashes round to quickly and your chance is gone before you or the fish realise it. Next year on the Helmsdale get a dropper back on as soon as the water gets into the 50s.

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As the management of salmon fishing in Scotland hangs on the precipice of monumental change I am getting totally hacked off with the posturing and lack of collaboration from so called "powers that be". Recommendations from the Freshwater Fisheries Review and the Land Reform Review Group are about to blow a huge hole in an antiquated Scottish fisheries system which is frankly failing the economy and the salmon.
I was reminded of this when I was invited once again to support the annual ( and very successful ) river Dee Auction. I don't have a problem with this as I have fished the Dee successfully on many occasions, I guess I have a soft spot for it so a large Helmsdale Co fly selection is always forthcoming. The annoying part for me is why I and others do not have the opportunity to support the river Helmsdale. Only a fool who would stand up and suggest the Helmsdale river is running like a well oiled engine. There are obvious challenges within the catchement as with any river, the key is identifying, prioritising and addressing problems and that's where a measured professional joined up approach is required. It is obvious that much of the river including the most important spawning areas are overrun with sheep causing untold damage to the whole riparian ecosystem. The negative effects of this are well documented, sheep are the ultimate invasive species and do not belong on highland riverbanks historically, they need to be managed in balance with the river.
Unfortunately for the Helmsdale there is no fund raising body or River Trust therefore we have a dead end regarding important habitat restoration projects and progressive thinking.

It's not my job to manage the river ( people are paid to do this ) but I will not stand back and watch the river dissolve into mediocrity or worse by simply letting it rest on it's laurels, a helping hand is required now and then. Society is ever changing and clients expectations are growing not diminishing, poor value for money fishing can be a deal breaker nowadays. People will not pay £500 per fish forever. If the river does not get it's act together it is in danger of sliding into obscurity along with the jobs it supports.

Many current and ex businessmen/women have fishing on the river throughout the season, they create their wealth making razor sharp decisions. It is not easy running a business successfully and its all too easy to go under if the eye comes off the ball. There are fundamentals to adhere to, strict protocol to follow and a vision to focus on.
The law now states that Boards must have open public meetings and it was the most recent Helmsdale Board meeting which proved to me that change is now essential and that new legislation is long overdue on this particular subject. Boards with an entrenched antiquated doctrine are letting down every angler associated with the river and here is an example of why.

First item on the Agenda at the Helmsdale river Board Meeting in May 2014.

1. "Research work commissioned by the Forestry Commission on the River Halladale" ( I rest my case right here! )

No mention of the Freshwater Fisheries Review? ( the most important fisheries review in 150 years )

Annual report - "This Annual Report will be published on the Boards website and a copy will be sent to The Scottish Government by the end of May 2014"
There is no Annual Report on the Boards website.

Accounts - "Accounts will be published on the Boards website and a copy will be sent to The Scottish Government by the end of May 2014.
There are no Accounts on the Boards website.

Fishing is my life, I have built my Tackle business around tying salmon flies since I was a boy. My father was a ghillie on the Helmsdale for 40 years, I was brought up spending hours on the banks of the river, fishing, exploring, learning, experimenting.....I have seen it and fished it in all it's glory and in every possible mode yet the learning curve continues and the salmon still holds the edge. First and foremost, the salmon must proliferate to drive the local economy therefore we must do our utmost at all times to nurture this iconic fish right from the gravel.

Change in fishery management is imminent and every single angler who reads this needs to embrace it and make it work for the sole benefit of the Helmsdale river and any other river for that matter. Anyone who thinks I am not 100% behind this does not know me. So next time you walk into the tackle shop feel free to be very open about discussing the idiosyncrasies of the river with me. We need to pull together and get the best heads round the table and a modern ethos on the agenda. New Fishery Management Organisations (FMO's) are to be the future of fisheries management. At the end of the day we all want the same thing, lots of fish, lots of sport and a vibrant economy. A blend of scientific research and local knowledge should pave the way forward and FMO's will provide this going forward.

I will report on the final week of the season on my return from the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
Don't forget that our fly BOGOF will run until Midnight Sunday so get your last orders in.

We have had the best of it now by all accounts and it looks like the season will be drifting out on a low note unlike the start! The final tally will limp over the 1000 mark but it will be best remembered as a "non event". There were around 35 fish off last week and a sealiced grilse from the Marrel pool

The good news is that we are running our famous fly BOGOF for the rest of the week so if you have fishing planned on the Tweed etc, then bulk up with some great back end flies right now, Rs SuperSnaeldas, Frances Coneheads, Junction Shrimp.....all lethal Autumn flies. Also don't forget that Spring is just around the corner so get stuck into those flies too, copper tubes, coneheads, tungsten tubes, it was the Alistair Tigertail which caught the first fish of the season this year, stick it on for the Autumn as it may catch you a fine fish or too yet. Hit our homepage and start shopping for your free flies right now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/

And so the big Scottish Indy referendum has passed and 55% have voted for the status quo. All I will say on the matter is this, prepare for some hard hitting land and freshwater fishery reform as the Scottish Government will now be in the mood for major change and they will not be taking any prisoners.

The water is down to near summer levels again and the fishing is fading as a result, not a surprise after such a good spell lately. Fresh fish have all but dried up and the residents are taking quite a lot of persuasion to have a go or swing a glance at the fly. However, it was not all doom and gloom and some rods caught in the teens. The highlight was a fine 24 pounder to Nick Day from the Ewes Neuk pool beat 5 fishing with George Hardy Achentoul. Sunray Shadow and small coneheads were most effective. Our RS SuperSnaelda is still causing a bit of a stir and here is the latest testimonial on its prowess -

"Dear Ron,

Last week was made truly memorable due to the addition of your RS Super Snaelda, to the business end of my fly line. In total four fish were caught during the week two fell to your invention!   On both occasions it was attrition with an array of flies that worn down the fish.  However it was your fly they finally succumbed to needless to say both times on the first cast.

Thank you for taking time out on the phone to discuss tactics with me,  and realising exactly what style and size of fly I would need for the river and it's conditions.

Ron that was my first ever Salmon,  I'm thrilled!

Thank you,

Ed Few.

The deadly RS SuperSnaelda which we designed last year. It's been our most popular fly since and you can buy it right here -  http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1541

One more snippet, I am involved with an exhibition in Inverness Museum through September & October about fly tying and other ancient highland skills, here is a short film promo which features myself commenting on the river and flytying etc, it's called Hunting for lost crafts - http://lostcraft.highlifehighland.com/themes/crafting-the-catch/

Sir Michael Wigan is also involved and gives a taste of life on his estate Borrobol. - http://lostcraft.highlifehighland.com/themes/both-sides-of-the-river/

After a few very good weeks on the Helmsdale, water levels are dropping back to our usual. The week before last provided around 85 fish with a dozen off the Association water. Jim Forsyth landed two fine fresh fish on a visit at 8 & 10lbs, both with sea-lice and the Flat pool was again the place to be with fairly high water. I also had a cracking morning landing 3 fish before breakfast on our deadly Cascade Alistair. The water was up and the air temp was cold as you can see from the pics, 3 degrees at 5.19am ( early bird and all that! ) so a full intermediate line was deployed and it was not long before the first fish was in the net dripping with sealice. Another 2 coloured fish quickly followed and I was back behind the Tackle shop counter by 8.45 bacon roll in hand! its a hard life here in the Highlands sometimes....

The fishing cooled off last week with fine weather and a dropping river defining some of the pools again. There were over 20 fish reported on Monday & Tuesday with reasonable fishing for the rest of the week but unless more water arrives soon we will be into the Frances and Sunray routine to see out the season.

The river looking very nice this morning 6/9/14

We still have good water on the Helmsdale and catches are reflecting this with some estates catching up to and over 30 per week recently, there were around 190 caught including 17 from the Association water. Large flies in coneheads copper and tungsten on floating, sink tip and intermediate lines are fishing well. Fresh fish are not in abundance at this late stage in the season but a few fresh grilse and salmon were caught on the Association water and throughout the river. The upper beats provided most of the action in a week which had the feeling of March fishing more than late summer. So much superb water on offer with all the big pools in good order on the lower river too. Fish were everywhere, not showing in big numbers but they were caught all over the river. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if another rod or two were permitted to fish when the river tops over 1ft on the gauge? There were some very large parties up last week all jostling for a cast…. 

And, there is no place to hide from the Ice Bucket Challenge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlEs3E3nCR4&list=UUpHoAF1kZfmbCkwPebWsVkg&index=1

Some highlights - Hugh Colville fishing Torrish rods got off to a flyer recording 11 fish on Monday & Tuesday to his own rod fishing 3 & 4 above. John (Hardy) Sutherland on a break from oil work abroad had a superb week on the Association water catching 11 fish up to 14lbs along with a number of seatrout to the 3.5lbs mark and Billy Cowie ended the week with a sea liced grilse from the Flat pool on the 1” Red Feeler copper tube. Half Johns catch was fresh and taken on one of our deadly Chartreuse Feeler tubes tied on a 1” copper tube, the black & orange version also scored. These flies are gathering a large following now. Ron has morphed the legendary properties of the Icelandic series of Frances flies with popular UK salmon patterns and they are producing some stunning results for anglers who are giving them work. They are not our latest design by any manner of means, but if you have not yet tried them, its time you did! For best results fish them on intermediate lines and get them right down in full view of the fish especially in the peaty Scottish water.

There is good availability on the Association water next week and a great chance of a hook up with superb fresh fish like the one below. weather conditions are settling down a little so more of this stretch will become fishable as water levels finally start dropping.

Stop press! - William Jappy with probably the last fish of the week from the Association water Flat pool on Saturday night which provided 6 in total for the day. An Alex Fraser Tiger Conehead did the trick.

Below are a few of the most popular Feeler tubes and an offer that we are currently running on them right here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1278

The Chartreuse Feeler tube which worked so well last week - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1045

Cascade Feeler tube - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1828

Black & Red Feeler Tube - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1763

Willie Gunn Feeler tube - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=871

A huge spate at the weekend set the tone for one of the best weeks of the season. Good catches were cropping up the length and breadth of the river. Mostly stale fish were caught but a number of sea liced fish also turned up.

Torrish rods got things going quickly catching 8 on beat 3 before the river started to rise again in an unsettled spell. Water levels remained high at around 3ft for Monday & Tuesday and were very slow to drop due to heavy showers, however, fish were still in a taking mood and even the Association water (which usually suits lower water) started to produce fish regularly. Billy Cowie got off the mark on a rare visit, John (Hardy) Sutherland had fish on most days, and Mick Butterly rounded the week off with a brace from the Flat pool on one of his home tied TDs. Around 12 fish were caught for the week and plenty tickets are available for this water. With temperatures cooling in the coming week, conditions should be good and water levels excellent.

Copper tubes and coneheads worked very well fished on full intermediate lines and floaters. We have loads available on-line so snap some up and get the rod out to enjoy all the fresh water deposited on the UK recently

These killers are starting to make their mark across the UK and it is fast approaching the part of the season when red flies start to dominate. Our red gold & black Feeler tube below is a lethal example of what you need to be fishing as soon as temps drop and rivers rise. http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1763

A blustery swirling wind made for challenging casting conditions at the Annual Highland Games but turnout was good and lots of juniors were also streaming in for a go. Jordon Marshall and Finlay Addams cleaned up in the under 16s events, Mary Anne Quail took the ladies title and I was forced to come out of retirement for a crack with all the amazing rods and lines on display. Mackenzie and Gaelforce lines were getting rave reviews but the much longer 85ft head on the Carron Jetstream and Loop cross S1 15ft combo posted the longest cast of 149ft for yours truly. Many thanks to all who helped out on the day.

Some of the prize winners, L - R Jordan Marshall (Junior salmon & trout distance), Ron Sutherland (Senior salmon & trout distance), Mick Buttery, (Senior trout distance 3rd place) Finlay Addams ( Junior trout accuracy ). Peter Quail won the senior trout accuracy competition.

April Sutherland impressively cranking up the trout rod.

The casting arena in full swing.

Nice water finally offered some welcome sport on the Helmsdale especially on Monday & Tuesday. 5 fish were reported on the Association water 4 of which were fresh. It was early bird Adam Macdonald who struck the first blow with 2 fresh fish from the tail of the Flat pool on an Allys tube but the rest of the day surprisingly only produced 3 more. The beats fared better with 3 off beat 1 and 7 off beat 2 Monday but there were no major happenings although fishing was fairly steady for the rest of the week. The count was probably 50/50 fresh to stale fish and no great fresh run materialised but some better quality salmon were caught in the 6 - 8lbs category.

More rain is forecast and a proper big spate would be grand to keep things in fine fettle, there are surely some more fresh fish to come and there are still 7 weeks to go yet! Day and weekly tickets are available on the Association water from the tackle shop for only £25 per rod per day. There is rod and wader hire also.

We have received some very good Testimonials this week (below) from anglers returning from fishing trips abroad. Our Alistairs are really making their mark in Russia and Norway now. Success came quickly a few years ago with the Cascade Alistair copper tube in Norway soon after we invented it and the following has been growing all over the Northern hemisphere, I feel a few new colour combinations coming on!

Hi Ron,
I wanted to let you know that I have had some remarkable success with the Alistair Conehead in Russia....... it was totally deadly. We had an absolute bonanza on the Pana due to the very late spring and I managed to take 86 fish in a week on the Alistair Conehead...... on one actual fly..... it was threadbare by the end! I then went to Yokanaga not long afterwards and got it to 92 not out including grassing 3 over 20lbs to 28lb ...... but I somehow lost the fly at Lyliok when releasing a fish which was gutting! From a flies perspective not a bad place to be lost in action! I can’t imagine you expected one tube to take 92 Salmon when you tied it!
PV
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Ron, just a quick message of thanks. I was on Rynda at the start of July this year. Whist everyone was keen to get on the surface flies I felt the water was still a little high and cool at the beginning of the week. I turned to the trusty cascade alistair cone head that you had tied me up for a previous trip.( water was so low last time they didn't get used.)
I had a top week and over the first 3 days the alistair accounted for nearly 20 fish to 20lb.. It was lethal, every pool and pocket the fish nailed it!!!
I ended up with 36 for the week and 26 on the same fly!!
Many thanks!!!!
I Robertson

The Cascade Alistair

The gorgeous Cascade Alistair JC - call us if you want any of these flies tied up by Ron personally.

Classic Alistair Conehead

Adam Macdonald in his double hotspot - Tail of the Flat pool on the Association water.

As the Freshwater Fishery Review comes to its final conclusions with a report due for ministers in September it would be intetesting to hear your views on the subject. Have a go on our Helmsdale river Forum, simply create a username and password and sign in to have your say! Read the the latest Review update on the Forum.

Its the Highland Games next week and we will have the best of gear in action for the fly casting competitions as usual, this year the salmon anglers will have the luxury of casting with the new CLA Gamefair winning line from GaelForce. Designed by James Chalmers (who worked with Carron Jetstream) these new lines are super slick and cast out of site and we are now stockists. Made in America, they display all the best design qualities of Carron Lines with added durability and phenominal long distance turnover. This line on a Loop Cross 15ft S1 should be a pretty amazing unit to cast, I hope you get along to enjoy! all the other casting comps will be on with troutdistance and accuraccy. This year 2 attempts only per discipline are permitted so get sharpened up.