The water has been lower for some time and kept to a reasonable fishing height by released water from the dam which is situated 24 miles from the mouth. The weather has been extremely variable, cool periods punctuated by spells of very hot sun. When it is very hot, there is considerable discrete evaporation, from both lochs and rivers.
Nonetheless, salmon have continued steadily to arrive in the Helmsdale. Local anglers have caught salmon as early as 5am., even when fishing with mist swirling over the water. The beats have been doing reasonably well and salmon have been of a good size.
Evidence of damage to salmon by seals has been increasing recently.
The first sea-trout are being caught now. The earliest run of Helmsdale sea-trout is always composed of larger fish. Rain would see them move throughout the whole system.