A long dour spring has finally given way to some action in the North and many who have failed to contact a springer this season have finally hooked up, including myself! but I had to book a week on the Brora river to land 2.

Cracking water on the Upper Cliff pool Brora South bank

Water levels were excellent all week on the Helmsdale but overhead conditions have not been so kind with a stiff raw North Easterly reminding us we are still in April. Barring a rising river on Friday, the river did not go below a foot on the marker so the scene was set for some seasonal sport maybe! The action eventually did arrive but for a lucky few. It was a case of being on the right beat at the right time and beat 6 was the place to be as fish held back from the falls of Kildonan with high water and cool temperatures. Suisgill rods provided the first clue that there were a few more fish starting to enter the system by recording 4 midweek from beat 6. Enter Graham Robertson and Ross Mackay fishing Kildonan rods next day and they would surpass the previous days score with a super 6. Swirl, Little Rock 2, Vale of Tears 2 and the Falls made for a memorable day. Ross & Graham (both from Caithness) have fished the rotation in spring for a few years now and they were due a great day - the fish were there and these guys were well equipped to sniff them out and keep ghillies Martin and Gordon on the hop! Kildonan totalled 8 for the week. Some other rods were lucky, some were not. Count for the week was probably between 25 & 30.

First Brora fish in the net on an Alistair Tiger Tail tube.

The Brora had some high scoring on the upper river and proved that fish were clearly running hard and keeping their noses down. The North bank recorded 4 with 2 to John Mackay, Bill Baxter and Corrie Cormack had one each. Yours truly had 2 and Brother Andy 1 on the South bank. I don't think anybody saw a fish moving all week - 14 sea-liced fish were taken from the upper river on one day whilst the lower river struggled badly, the cool temps were good but high water obviously does not suit the lower Brora! The Oykel reported 24 fish in 4 days so it would seem a run of sorts has arrived.

Keep an eye out for some super fly offers in the weeks ahead as we move around some old and new stock. Listening to all the reports this week it would seem that most fish were taken on floating lines and sink tips with a wide range of flies from doubles to quite large Monkey tubes. The week ahead looks to offer better weather than last so smaller coneheads and size 8/9 doubles should fish well as rivers fine down to excellent levels. The Helmsdale Association water will be a very good bet for sport this week and at only £25 per rod per day you would do well to have a go! Local Robert Mackay had his first of the season midweek at 13lbs. Tickets are available from the tackle shop along with all the flies and tips required for a successful day out.

Tight lines.