Category Archives: Uncategorized

The 6 week period of salmon fishing restricted to local anglers which started 29th May ended on 6th July when fishing on the beats became available once more to visitors, and to members of the public on the Lower Helmsdale. … Continue reading →

The 2019 season on the Helmsdale ended with reasonable catches. From July the fungus, or saprolegnia, which had afflicted the returning salmon in May and June began to fade. This coincided with the water getting warmer. By September nearly all … Continue reading →

The Helmsdale season ended with a flurry of larger-than-life catches. The long drought which started in May was broken when rain fell heavily in mid-September. Through the long dry summer catches had never altogether ceased but angling had been difficult … Continue reading →

The River Helmsdale is in the 8th week without rain. Days are mostly in full sunlight, although there has usually been a welcome breeze. Nights are sometimes cool. Up until now the compensatory loch-water retained by the Badanloch Dam has … Continue reading →

The season has ended with a respectable catch total of 1720 salmon and grilse on the private beats. The Lower Helmsdale too had good catches. The rain continued most of the year but never resulted in enormous spates. River levels … Continue reading →

The River Helmsdale has fished reasonably well all season. There have been no bumper weeks, but also no weeks without fish swimming up. Weights have been unusually high, in common with some other northern rivers. Three fish have weighed 30 … Continue reading →

The River opened on January 11th with the Sutherland Schools Pipe Band bravely marching down the High St and soon to be lost in swirling sleet. However, hardy anglers from far and wide as usual turned out in numbers. They … Continue reading →

The season’s finish coincided with the first severe frost. Cock salmon at last left the lairs they had occupied since early August and became more aggressive. However, late season angling on the Helmsdale in 2016 had consisted of seeing fish … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

Please note: Visitor Angling Tickets for the River Helmsdale may be bought from either: Thyme and Plaice, 10 Dunrobin St. Helmsdale, tel 01431 821598 email: robertstephenson81@hotmail.com or from the Bannockburn Inn, Stafford St., Helmsdale, tel 01431 821461, email: tartanlounge@aol.com