As predicted, the Helmsdale sprung into action last week with around 30 fish off. 5 fish were landed Monday before a washout ensued Tuesday. Ian Muir and his team fishing Borrobol rods were expecting a decent week and beat 3 Monday did not disappoint with 3 fish, he went on to grass another 6 to his own rod from beat 6 (3) and beat 5 (3) including a belting 20 pounder from the Swirl beat 6. Meanwhile most of the other rods were bumping into some nice fish throughout the river with one from the Canal pool at the very head of the system, fish are definitely now in the loch. The best fish of the week was a thumping 23 pounder which fell to the rod of Angela Webb fishing the gravelly pool Achentoul rods, a pot bellied pig tube did the job. No fish were caught on the Association water although a little high all week but the most stunning fact of the week would be the absence of a fish from beat 2, this beat offers some of the finest fly water in Scotland let alone the Helmsdale! Hopefully just a blip. As the cold snap and high water continues sink tips with weighted tubes and coneheads will keep catching as long as fish keep running, a timely chance to still take advantage of our buy 3 get 1 free on all flies ( apart from Solar monkey! ).

For those of you who are interested the open Helmsdale River Board meetings come around this weekend again but with another eagerly awaited major Scot Gov Consultation imminent on new Fishery Management structure in Scotland these meetings could be some of the last in the current format. The formation of a National Wild Fisheries Unit and local Fishery Management Organisations are to modernise all aspects of river management through a completely new framework as soon as possible.

Achentoul ghillie George (Hardy) Sutherland with Angela Webb thumping 23 pounder


Ian Muir with his super 20 pounder from the Swirl pool
 

Otis Ferry shows off his sparkling first Helmsdale fish from the Manse pool beat 6.