I have now returned from 10 days abroad to a climate 23 degrees cooler! The river is running at around 1ft and in perfect shape, prospects are very good for early April so let’s hope the fish keep coming.

A brief update on the last 3 weeks…

The 3^rd week March rallied with around 16. Visitor Kevin Steel stole the show with a fabulous day on the Salscragie pool beat 1 below when he landed 3 super springers on RS Willie Gunn  and Alistair Feeler tubes. The best was a 15 pounder and his fishing partner William Jappy also got in on the act with a fish from the tail of the Marrel. Andy Sutherland also added another to his tally from a rather unusual lie well down Shepherds pool beat 5 to get Torrish rods off and running Monday on a black & orange RS Monkey conehead.

Kev with the biggest of his 3 beauties from Salscraggie pool beat 1.

A low river resulted in a rather dour week on the Helmsdale last week in March. 2 fish for Achentoul rods including the first fish off the top river was the highlight along with another fish for that man Andy Sutherland from the Association water Golden Shot pool, the week ended on 4 and the Month on around 50.

Last week was nothing to write home about either and only around 6 fish were caught up until Friday. However, 2 fish were caught in the Foam pool beat 5 Saturday afternoon by Brian Lovering Kildonan rods, Brian had 4 to his rod for the week including a super 15 pounder from beat 6. Not to miss out on the action, I was keen to swing the rod again and had an evening flick on the Association water. The water temp was good at 44 which is just around where you start expecting fish to rise to the fly.  Not much sign of life to begin with but then a fish jumped at the head of the pool a good half hour after I had fished it. The gear was reeled up extra fast and a large conehead Monkey tube was launched squarely in the direction of the fish. Tactics were set, The rod tip was raised and drawn towards the bank, the fly was stripped at speed and the response was immediate. One of the keenest fish I have ever had the pleasure to catch, it attacked the fly with furious passion 6 times before finally managing to get a hold. Luckily my good friend Adam Macdonald was on hand to witness the madness, land the fish and get a pic. The fly was the exact tube that caught the first fish of the season, do NOT visit a river without one of these incredible tubes in your box! you can buy them here right now - http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/classic-dee-monkey-silver-conehead.html

The lethal RS Monkey

The fish that just couldn't resist it...

The popular Scottish Salmon Fishing Surgery recently published a neat article on Helmsdale Co if you want an insight on how it all began and where we are now, check it out here - http://www.scottishsalmonfishingsurgery.com/reel-stories/info_10.html

On another note – it is encouraging to see the Helmsdale River Board finally complying with the Aquaculture & Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013 by publishing it's obligations online. You can now view the Annual Report, Audited accounts and Minutes of recent meetings right here -  http://helmsdale.dsfb.org.uk/publications/