The Helmsdale river relentlessly keeps producing the goods, 95 - 100 fish were caught last week and it was the turn of Borrobol rods to top the scoring with 27 fish. water levels were very favourable once again early in the week and ferociously topped up midweek to 3ft after serious overnight rain. 2 grilse were reported and numbers of these small fish should keep building week on week. But it is the good numbers of quality fish which is most encouraging and many fish in the teens of pounds are still running the river.

Alistairs, and conehead TD tubes are ever present on the score sheet as usual and if you are experienced it is now worth fishing a dropper set-up throughout the summer months. Fishing with a dropper tends to be a bit of a "Highland thing" but results can be explosive if you are using this extra fly and you are amongst the fish. Dibbling the fast water at the head of the pools is where the dropper works best but you would be surprised how many fish ignore the tail fly during conventional long line fishing and chose to take the dropper fly instead. I was on the end of a perfect example of this last Friday on one of my many flying river Brora visits. I had 4 salmon - 2 on the dropper and 2 on the tail fly.

The first pool i fished was the tail of the Madman pool on the lower half of the lower Brora. Covering the draw I had a glorious rise and take fishing a long line from the South bank. Providing you are consistently casting the same length of line on the same angle and taking one step between casts any fish you are covering should firstly see your tail fly first then next cast see the dropper fly, I was set up with a 3" Monkey tube on the tail and a Kazcade double size 8 on the dropper - the fish chose the smaller dropper. It obviously ignored the bigger tail fly on my previous cast and then opted for the dropper next. Would I have caught that fish fishing with no dropper?? I doubt it, I would have probably moved on with no action. Fishing the next pool I had a vicious take from my first grilse of the season on the Monkey tube - the team was working well!

Looking up to the tail of the Madman pool Lower Brora where I hooked my first of 4 salmon. The height is 1ft 3.

First grilse of the season on the black & yellow Monkey conehead

The Helmsdale Association water is fairly quiet at the moment, not many visiting anglers are on the water. We are between the peak spring run and main grilse run so it is to be expected. Water levels are excellent however and chances of a hook up are still very good. Availability on this water is also very good and sea-trout are now running. Call the shop to book day tickets for £26 per rod per day. Don't forget to book local accom for the 24hr ticket.