Last week was not a memorable week on the Helmsdale. Grilse were practically non existent and some rods only managed to save the blank for their week! Temperatures were below average but the river was running fine on summer level, the missing ingredient was fresh running fish in any numbers. Some stragglers were caught and the Badanloch rods of Ian Muir and Chris Wall probably had the best of it with 8 between them by Friday mainly on our tiny Willie Gunn Conehead TDs.

Locally, one grilse was caught by Phillip Marshall whilst seatrout fishing, Phillip also had some nice seatrout up to 2.5lbs. I have been out on the water also experimenting and developing some fresh new deadly seatrout flies which will be in the new Fulling Mill catalogue coming out in the autumn, watch out for them, they are stunners and I predict they will be the biggest selling seatrout flies in 2015 if the popularity of our CDC doubles is anything to go by. Seatrout are still in the estuary here and will give sport until the grilse arrive - hopefully we do not have too long to wait.

The word from other rivers in the North is the same, not a lot happening yet. One highlight being a clonking 20 pounder for David Raper on the Brora Well Pool. The fresh run fish was caught on a Willie Gunn and returned.

Chris Wall with a solid 12 pounder to start his week on Badanloch rods from New Stream beat 3 above.

The Willie Dog Crimp conehead doing the damage this week - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1222

Ron with a 3.5lbs seatrout taken on the Black CDC double which has had a very good month! - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=category&cat_id=11

A close up of the lethal teeth and black CDC on this ferocious cock seatrout.

Don't forget to ask for a demo cast with the sensational Loop Cross S1, we have a 15ft rigged up and ready to roll with the perfectly balanced Loop GDC Shooting head. Please call in advance to book a trial with this amazing rod and line as they are often out on the water - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1287