After a few very good weeks on the Helmsdale, water levels are dropping back to our usual. The week before last provided around 85 fish with a dozen off the Association water. Jim Forsyth landed two fine fresh fish on a visit at 8 & 10lbs, both with sea-lice and the Flat pool was again the place to be with fairly high water. I also had a cracking morning landing 3 fish before breakfast on our deadly Cascade Alistair. The water was up and the air temp was cold as you can see from the pics, 3 degrees at 5.19am ( early bird and all that! ) so a full intermediate line was deployed and it was not long before the first fish was in the net dripping with sealice. Another 2 coloured fish quickly followed and I was back behind the Tackle shop counter by 8.45 bacon roll in hand! its a hard life here in the Highlands sometimes....

The fishing cooled off last week with fine weather and a dropping river defining some of the pools again. There were over 20 fish reported on Monday & Tuesday with reasonable fishing for the rest of the week but unless more water arrives soon we will be into the Frances and Sunray routine to see out the season.

The river looking very nice this morning 6/9/14