The week is getting better - Kildonan Ghillie Martin Grant has landed No 3 from Salscraggie pool once again. The sea-liced fish weighed in at around 11lbs.

Colin Armer, Brora, has caught the second fish of the season from Salscraggie pool beat 1. Colin was fishing Achentoul rods and the bar of silver weighed in at a healthy 12lbs. The fly was a red & yellow conehead home tie from Colin on a 2" tube.

We are still on a buy 3 get 1 free on all flies. This great offer will run all through the spring and it is going great gunns so stock up before we run out of your favourite flies!

2014 was one of our most successful years since Helmsdale Co was formed 15 years ago. With out a doubt the internet is where you need to be as business and the international market is where it's at as we are seeing more and more anglers heading abroad to satisfy their fishing needs. The UK is still a strong market but a tad in limbo and we predict it will remain so unless salmon numbers bounce back this year and re-energise the sector.

New fly designs, additional brands & popular accessories have helped us grow year on year and our customer data base is now into 5 figures. We pride ourselves in a quality personal service over the much bigger tackle companies as we feel we need to get to know our customers and that they feel there is an experienced person answering their call - not a call centre or robot. We see this as one of the big keys to our success and cannot thank our loyal customers enough.

We have given up the Post Office wing of our business feeling that after 3 years, it was not right for us, due to a National Government Network Transformation programme, it simply had to go, but, it certainly helped expand our local client base by showcasing our full range of products to people that otherwise would not have visited the local "fishing" shop.

Fulling Mill salmon flies are going from strength to strength worldwide due to our continued engagement with the company and more flies and ideas are in the pipeline. Our Helmsdale Co fly brand remains our premium range and we also have a good selection of Caledonian flies. We have flies for everyone and prices and offers to suit all pockets. This year we will be expanding our saltwater and freshwater predator range of lures as well as adding more hooks from market leader Mustad. Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit fishing is gaining popularity globally as is bass, pollock & seatrout fishing on the Uk coastline.

On another note we are witnessing major developments on the fishery management front which are sure to affect our business in the long term. The distinct possibility of Sunday salmon fishing is in the air for the first time. Sunday is the busiest recreational day of the week for families generally so the area is sure to welcome more anglers fishing for salmon & seatrout, however, a national Rod License (if introduced) may hamper day trippers by adding a significant cost. Hopefully any rod license is graded in some way. There are many other recommendations as a result of the recent Freshwater Fishery Review, some of which are set to re-write the whole fishery management framework. This has mixed appeal as there is sure to be much more bureaucracy involved stretching Boards & Tackle shops to the limit with carcass tagging systems and licensing docs etc etc. We have some great chat about all this on the Helmsdale River Forum right now, just sign in with an email address and username to check it all out and take part.

On the local fishing front, all is quiet. Absolutely nothing is happening anywhere. Junction pool on the Tweed is the only place producing the goods with over 40 springers accounted for in the opening 2 weeks.

Thank you for your continued support and here are a few recent pics from our shop.

The latest waterproof jackets from Loop , Simms, Vision, Snowbee etc

Top reels from Loop, hardy, Vision, Shakespeare...

All the rocket launching line technology from Loop, Mackenzie, Carron, GaelForce, Scientific Anglers & Rio

The top nets from Fastnet and weigh nets from Mclean

Waders from Simms, Vision, Scierra, Ocean & Snowbee

All the sinking tips and leaders required

A large range of fly-tying materials with the superb Foxy Tails now onboard.

All the bits & bobs, flasks, flyboxes, rod holders, waterproofing spray, shooting pellets etc etc

Salmon rods of all prices from Loop, Mackenzie, Guideline, Greys, Shakespeare...

Pop in for a chat next time you are in the area...be great to see you!