26/4/09 

Fishing conditions on the Helmsdale this week have been reasonable despite the Summer water levels but numbers of salmon seen and caught have been poor. Once again the spring salmon run has really not materialised and this is not just the case for the Helmsdale, it is the same worrying statistic all round Scotland .

However the Association water provided sport for Alexander Cowie and Alasdair Jappy who had a couple of fine fish up to 11lbs. One fish caught on the Sunray Shadow again and one on a small cotton bud tube.

Prospects for the week ahead are not looking too great as most of the rain forecast is for the South. Small flies will be the order of the day again unless you set up with the Sunray Shadow.

I will be at the Trout & Salmon Tweed Angling Fair in Kelso on Saturday & Sunday this week so if you are in the area why not pop over for a chat. I will be in the Atlantic Salmon Reserve tent with the team tying salmon flies (or at the casting competition!!) I will also have lots of flies on display and for sale – The new Sunray Tsunami is getting its official launch and that is a fly well worth seeing.

By the way, The ASR still have a few amazing slots available for salmon fishing on the Kharlovka/Litza/Rynda rivers in Russia . The full team will be on hand to discuss all the last minute deals and there will be refreshments and a superb slide show of the incredible salmon fishing on offer.

Hope to see you there