Some good chat on our Helmsdale river Forum - just "sign in" and have a go, lets hear your point of view on the river etc and meet some new fishing friends. Use the link at the top of the page on the left.

We are now taking orders for next year if you require any specific patterns tied up, call us and we can get your order in the system. Don't forget we are now Hardy dealers and can supply you with the full range of Hardy & Greys equipment.

The last 10 days of the season fizzled out rather quietly with around 40 - 50 fish being reported. Temperatures held up so the fish were never really switched into aggressive spawning mode. However, there was one highlight, Ian Muir had a super day on beat 1 fishing in classic Helmsdale dibbling mode for Kildonan rods and landing 7 for his efforts from Salscraggie through to Upper Caen. The setup was one of our micro Silver Stoat temple Dog tubes coupled up with a black & orange double on the dropper. Ian had lots of rises and action to both flies and enjoyed his day immensely.

Dibbling seems to be turning into a lost art these days. There was no more effective way to fish throughout the summer than to have your rod set up with a dropper of size 8 - 10 double and a small tube as the tail fly. The Megan plastic tube was the big killer generally with a shrimp style fly or Hairy Mary on the dropper. The big plus with this setup was that you could fish the fastest water very effectively by holding out the rod and controlling the pace of the fly yourself. Salmon love to rise to the dibbled fly even in the roughest water and of-course you could present 2 flies of varying colour and size to fish in quick succession maximising your chances. Fishing flat with one fly as so many do nowadays misses many chances of catching a fish. Generally the fly flashes round to quickly and your chance is gone before you or the fish realise it. Next year on the Helmsdale get a dropper back on as soon as the water gets into the 50s.

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As the management of salmon fishing in Scotland hangs on the precipice of monumental change I am getting totally hacked off with the posturing and lack of collaboration from so called "powers that be". Recommendations from the Freshwater Fisheries Review and the Land Reform Review Group are about to blow a huge hole in an antiquated Scottish fisheries system which is frankly failing the economy and the salmon.
I was reminded of this when I was invited once again to support the annual ( and very successful ) river Dee Auction. I don't have a problem with this as I have fished the Dee successfully on many occasions, I guess I have a soft spot for it so a large Helmsdale Co fly selection is always forthcoming. The annoying part for me is why I and others do not have the opportunity to support the river Helmsdale. Only a fool who would stand up and suggest the Helmsdale river is running like a well oiled engine. There are obvious challenges within the catchement as with any river, the key is identifying, prioritising and addressing problems and that's where a measured professional joined up approach is required. It is obvious that much of the river including the most important spawning areas are overrun with sheep causing untold damage to the whole riparian ecosystem. The negative effects of this are well documented, sheep are the ultimate invasive species and do not belong on highland riverbanks historically, they need to be managed in balance with the river.
Unfortunately for the Helmsdale there is no fund raising body or River Trust therefore we have a dead end regarding important habitat restoration projects and progressive thinking.

It's not my job to manage the river ( people are paid to do this ) but I will not stand back and watch the river dissolve into mediocrity or worse by simply letting it rest on it's laurels, a helping hand is required now and then. Society is ever changing and clients expectations are growing not diminishing, poor value for money fishing can be a deal breaker nowadays. People will not pay £500 per fish forever. If the river does not get it's act together it is in danger of sliding into obscurity along with the jobs it supports.

Many current and ex businessmen/women have fishing on the river throughout the season, they create their wealth making razor sharp decisions. It is not easy running a business successfully and its all too easy to go under if the eye comes off the ball. There are fundamentals to adhere to, strict protocol to follow and a vision to focus on.
The law now states that Boards must have open public meetings and it was the most recent Helmsdale Board meeting which proved to me that change is now essential and that new legislation is long overdue on this particular subject. Boards with an entrenched antiquated doctrine are letting down every angler associated with the river and here is an example of why.

First item on the Agenda at the Helmsdale river Board Meeting in May 2014.

1. "Research work commissioned by the Forestry Commission on the River Halladale" ( I rest my case right here! )

No mention of the Freshwater Fisheries Review? ( the most important fisheries review in 150 years )

Annual report - "This Annual Report will be published on the Boards website and a copy will be sent to The Scottish Government by the end of May 2014"
There is no Annual Report on the Boards website.

Accounts - "Accounts will be published on the Boards website and a copy will be sent to The Scottish Government by the end of May 2014.
There are no Accounts on the Boards website.

Fishing is my life, I have built my Tackle business around tying salmon flies since I was a boy. My father was a ghillie on the Helmsdale for 40 years, I was brought up spending hours on the banks of the river, fishing, exploring, learning, experimenting.....I have seen it and fished it in all it's glory and in every possible mode yet the learning curve continues and the salmon still holds the edge. First and foremost, the salmon must proliferate to drive the local economy therefore we must do our utmost at all times to nurture this iconic fish right from the gravel.

Change in fishery management is imminent and every single angler who reads this needs to embrace it and make it work for the sole benefit of the Helmsdale river and any other river for that matter. Anyone who thinks I am not 100% behind this does not know me. So next time you walk into the tackle shop feel free to be very open about discussing the idiosyncrasies of the river with me. We need to pull together and get the best heads round the table and a modern ethos on the agenda. New Fishery Management Organisations (FMO's) are to be the future of fisheries management. At the end of the day we all want the same thing, lots of fish, lots of sport and a vibrant economy. A blend of scientific research and local knowledge should pave the way forward and FMO's will provide this going forward.

I will report on the final week of the season on my return from the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
Don't forget that our fly BOGOF will run until Midnight Sunday so get your last orders in.