The river came up to 2 ft overnight on Sunday and flushed life back into the fishing. Bonanza it was not, but there were enough fresh and resident fish to score approx 100 fish for the week including the Association water. Sea-liced fish were reported from beat 4 above but I have not heard of a fish coming off the loch yet, this is no surprise as it is not taken seriously and rarely visited, having said that there will be plenty fish in it now and anyone giving up a few hours on the lower beat will be rewarded if the wind is favourable.

Although catches were generally good during the week it was still easy to miss out as pods of fresh fish ripped through the system. The week ended with a bang for Badanloch rods when Alistair & William Jappy got the nod late on Saturday. They had a great evening with 5 fish from beat 2 and 4 on beat 1 after 8pm. Unfortunately the sea-trout have not really materialised in any numbers yet. Catches have been sparse from the generally productive Association water.

The same water however has had its best week of the season with around 10 fish off ending with 3 on Friday and 3 on Saturday. We had the usual mix of fish for the time of year with grilse as small as 2lbs up to fish in the teens. Visiting and local anglers both caught their fair share with all the usual suspects getting in on the act apart from me who is too busy providing the tackle to catch them, I'll try to rectify this problem from next week onwards!  

Baby Temple dogs, Alistairs and small doubles were catching well all week as the river dropped fast - this week could be even better!

This weeks photo's include Mick Buttery (below) with his second fish of the season (11lbs) on another one of his own flies - this time it was the Micky Blue

Kenny Macdonald Golspie on a flying visit had this 8lbs beauty from Roaries pool on a Baby TD.

And, here are 2 of our new flies which have been starring abroad in Russia on the Yokanga and Ponoi rivers. We are getting fantastic feedback from guides and anglers claiming amazing catches on these flies. I think you need a selection of all the above flies in your box! 

Flaming Tigerback - To buy them click here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1496

Willie Gunn Feeler - To buy click here now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1482

The deadly Baby Temple Dog tube - fish this with a Fulling Mill tube double size 10 or 12 - these doubles are exactly the same as Loop doubles in strength weight and colour. You can buy them both here right now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1530

http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1344