14/3/10

The last three weeks on the Helmsdale have produced the following scores - 2, 3, 2 a grand total of 7 springers for the season so far. William Jappy rounded off his week on Badanloch rods with an 8.5lbs fish from Salscraggie and I had the pleasure of hooking one in the Clay bank pool on beat 5 on Wednesday. The sea-liced fish weighed in at 8lbs and one of Helmsdale Co's new Flaming Temple Dog conehead tubes was the deadly fly! http://www.helmsdalecompany.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=872 The set up I now use is an absolute pleasure to fish also - Scott Mackenzie DTX 15ft, Carron Jetstream 65ft 10/11 head sinking Spey line. I have fished for many years with various tackle combo's and I have had much enjoyment watching my line shoot accross the river but fishing with the new DTX teamed up with either a Carron Jetstream or DTX Multi-tip line is amazing and takes fishing to a whole new level, casting technology at the very cutting edge and with a rod almost half the price of some of the more established brand names.

Nowadays with so few spring salmon around I get most of my pleasure on the river out of casting well and returning salmon – if I am lucky enough to land one!
Personally I would like to see ALL Helmsdale springers returned until we see an upturn in numbers again. If she aint swimming she aint spawning!!!

My first springer of 2010 below safely in the net ( New Lightweight Gye by Fastnet ).

Perfection - hooked in the scissors

The deadly 1.25" Flaming Temple Dog tungsten conehead

The Clay Bank hot spot down at the overhanging bush.

Returning the fish to fight another day.