last week was basically a non event and hardly worth reporting on. After a reasonable start to the week and the arrival of some nice sea-trout, the weather turned unsettled and the fishing was dire. Tuesday saw a slow small rise in the river which put paid to the sea-trout fishing and by Thursday we had another rising river and one of the biggest spates of the season crashing through the whole system. Normally when a big June spate kicks in we catch lots of coloured springers amongst fresh runners, not so this time. On Friday and Saturday the upper beats were settled and perfect but the only event worth noting was the sheer lack of fish. The whole week produced around 20 - 25 fish and one grilse was reported.

The Association water got off to a promising star Monday when Alistair Jappy grassed a cracking 12 pounder from Roaries Rock and yours truly bagged a 3.5 and 2lbs sea-trout at night, more were caught on the night and things were looking up. But as mentioned earlier, things became unsettled and that put an end to local sport. After the big rise, the flat pool was in superb order Friday but very little sign of fresh fish running apart from the odd sea-trout.

Prospects for next week - who knows, turn up and see!. There is availability on the Association water and a few fresh grilse should be arriving along with summer salmon, water levels are good.

We have a batch of our new RS Willie Gunn Mylar tubes tied up again (below), these have fished superbly all over Scotland and abroad in the last few seasons but stocks have been very limited as the fly is difficult to construct - please order your supply ASAP as these beauties will be snapped up! http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1907

A plump sea-liced sea-trout from the Flat pool and the river in spate at the top end of the Association water.