A vid of the 14 pounder caught this week on Thursday - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=689616167727534&set=vb.461168207238999&type=2&theater

We have the official opening movie on the Forum, awesome stuff!! don't miss it...

Some Helmsdale fishing if anyone interested...the springers are in!

February Fishing - With Accommodation
w/c Sunday 2nd February 2014
w/c Sunday 16th February 2014 - Sold
The cost of the week is £675 + VAT, to include the week's fishing (2 rods, no ghillie) and accommodation (Balvallioch cottage - sleeps 4). Please note that the fishing is not available without the accommodation.

you may need to hook up with me on facebook to view it as that seems to be where it is embedded. Let me know.
It was a fabulous week and the experiment absolutely worked out. I only heard of one kelt being miss-handled over the whole week from in excess of 260 anglers from all corners of the country. 3 opening week salmon was a fabulous result, the Helmsdale season is off to a flyer. I sold 2 Suisgill estate February weeks last night within 20 minutes of them hitting the net! I would say this is a direct result of the fast start.

There has been a huge call for more availability in Helmsdale spring weeks from anglers this week. They are amazed that after the opening week the rodding evaporates to only 2 rods per beat. A minimum of 4 rods per beat would be comfortably accommodated on the water. I will be writing to the Board to consider this on behalf of a very large group of keen anglers.
I would also like to think that due to the success of the past week that a free opening week will become an annual event. Once again I would like to thank the Helmsdale River Board for this unique opportunity, it was a great success all-round. Loop tackle also must be thanked for sponsoring the First Fish prize and donating one of their state of the art Cross S1 rods and a new Colour Concept Evotec reel.
I hear that the Sponsor of the River Opening, Clynelish distillery has this week announced that they are to double the size of their distillery in Brora! what should we read into that I wonder....

We are launching some absolutely amazing new flies this week - look out for them on the Club Helmsdale Forum. We will also start discussing what may happen in the new Fishery management review announced by the Scottish Government last week, this should be very interesting, there has never been such a review in our lifetime and now is the time to get things right. Please login and take part, this is too important to miss out on. Everyone engaged in Scottish angling should have their say.

One of our new classic Black & yellow tubes which is perfect for spring salmon fishing in copper & alumimium. http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1781