The season started with wintry conditions persisting until April. Catches in March and April were lower than normal although there were short periods of good fishing in April.
Then for 8 consecutive weeks catches were above average. Furthermore catches to the end of June were almost entirely spring salmon. Few grilse had arrived. The fishing in May was especially good.
Even in June temperatures remained low. On 13th June, a week short of midsummer, the temperature half way up the river at Kildonan was below freezing. Early July was hardly warmer.
Low temperatures to mid-summer were expected to result in less invertebrate life and consequently less food for young salmon. In addition, high water levels and frequent spates during the winter 2023/2024 threatened to have washed out some shallower redds resulting in lower fry survival. The electro-fishing programme, counting and ageing young salmon in the headwaters, showed lower numbers of fry and also lower numbers of parr. Scottish Government’s provision of new electro-fishing equipment improved the speed and accuracy of this research.
Following good catch figures for the season to the start of June catches in July and till mid-August were lower than normal. The last 6 weeks of the season were good with two weeks producing over one hundred salmon/grilse on the beats.
The season catch finished at around 1300, including 93 on the Lower Helmsdale. This is the highest catch for 4 years. This good recovery season was owing to steady rain, and in most weather aspects the opposite to the previous low rainfall season in 2023.
The Helmsdale has retained its Conservation Grade 1 status.
Spawning started in late October and was over quickly in only 10 days. Conditions were ideal with clear and steady water. Observers saw large numbers of spawners in the system and the redds were visible into mid November when rain recommenced.