The fishing is improving by the week right now on the Helmsdale. Another good week reported 9 springers to bring the tally to 25. Kildonan rods got the week to a fast start with an 8lbs fish from the Vale of Tears before the river went on the rise. From Tuesday it was the Sweetman show on Badanloch rods when Elizabeth S had a lovely 12.5 pounder from Kilphedir pool beat 2. Not to be outdone, Hubby John duly grassed cracking 15 pounder next day from Salscraggie beat 1. The same day another 2 fish were caught on beat 6 and beat 5.

Badanloch ghillie Alex Fraser with a delighted John Sweetman

John's wife Liz with her 12.5 pounder from Kilphedir pool

The RS Fulling Mill Monkey tube doing some serious damage yet again. The Monkey fly is really making it's presence felt this year already having had a number of spectacular seasons. Black and Yellow is always good in spring, but tied Monkey style there is nothing better. We have them tied on skullhead, Conehead, tungsten, aluminium and plastic tubes - do yourself a favour and call Ron for a selection with hooks to suit - 01431821372. Or simply purchase online here - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1822

Thursday/Friday were blank surprisingly but Saturday produced 4. The first for beat 3 came off, beat 6 gave another and Graham McCulloch had a memorable day on beat 5 landing 2 sea liced fish from the Whinnie and Craggie bend a 8 & 9lbs. The week ended on 9 and we are now up to 25 fish off.

I had a lovely day on another river on Saturday, no takers on the day but I was extremely impressed with the attention to detail. When we arrived the ghillie guided us through the whole beat to set us up which was very helpful indeed but even better was to come, the layout of the beat had every pool named with the starting point and end of each pool clearly marked, you could not go wrong, we were then handed an A5 note with the order of all the pools. This was the best attention to detail I have seen on any salmon river (and I have fished a few! ) it really settles you into the water quickly and makes for a very enjoyable and organised day. Can you guess where it is...?

Bishops pool!

Green disc for starting point

Red disc for the end of the pool

A perfect livestock buffer strip

Stunning setting

The Master (Andy Torrish ) searching for yet another springer in amazing scenery.