There were 4 fish off the Helmsdale last week taking the total to 6 for the season. Andy "Torrish" Sutherland finally got off the mark with his summer kit whilst the river was low. Mild temps and very stormy conditions hit the area on Tuesday but that did not stop Andy venturing out onto beat 2 where he put his expert casting qualities to good use in the Park pool grassing a sparkling 10 pounder on his switch rod. A 0.5" Alistair copper tube was the fly & it was simply fished off a floating line..

The river rose to around 1ft the next day with snowmelt and this seemed to intice a few more fish into the system. The Fall pool on beat 6 gave one up so this obviously means that the fish are now over the falls of Kildonan. Beat 3 and 1 also recorded springers later in the week.

On the business front, we have never been busier, Willie Gunns, Alistairs and Chartreuse & yellow solar Monkeys 6cm seem to be the big movers which is no surprise at all, beautiful quality tied flies.

Andy's fresh 10 pounder quickly photographed and returned...