The River Helmsdale opened with a thawing + 4 degrees on the thermometer (today Jan 11th) but this was not enough to shift the 8” of ice which has built up daily in the river since December 18th 2009.
After an assortment of up-beat tunes from the Sutherland Schools pipe band, river board manager Sir Michael Wigan welcomed all to the opening ceremony which drew a larger than expected crowd. He warned the few hardy anglers who had tackled up to take great care on the perilous ice and also thanked Clynelish distillery for providing some fine whiskey refreshments throughout the day and a prize bottle for the captor of the first fish caught.
The gathering outside the Bridge Hotel.
The longest serving ghillie on the Helmsdale River Alex Fraser (Badanloch estate) was then introduced and led down to the river for the traditional honorary first cast of the season, this he managed in fine style and officially opened the new salmon season.
Badanloch ghillie Alex Fraser launching the first cast across the Coach pool on the Association water with Sir Michael Wigan looking on.
Unfortunately the eagerly anticipated Scott Mackenzie Demo day had to be cancelled earlier in the week due to the lack of casting space on the river. Scott who has won the World Spey casting championship on 3 occasions has recently launched his new range of superb DTX salmon rods and these were to be on show with instruction on the biggest pool on the lower Helmsdale but sadly it was not to be. The weather has frozen most pools solid for the time being apart from the tidal water! This event is to be re-scheduled hopefully at a later date.
Andy Sutherland searching for another first fish in the Association water on the Flat pool...he's on thin ice there
Carbisdale Caster shooting one across the Style pool on the Association water, from there on up everything is pretty much icebound!
Conditions were tough to say the least with large banks of ice on both sides of most pools and a fair run of grue to pop up that copper tube mid-stream. However, to add some extra excitement to the proceedings a few new Spey casts had to be invented to deal with the extreme challenge on hand “ The Ice Flip Roll “ and “ The Ice Lay Drop T “ both became standard practice by the end of the day!
No first fish but Andy's his first kelt of the season slides up on the ice no problem.
The Lower Caen pool closing up even more today.
The Highlights, only 3 kelts were miraculously landed from Lower Caen (Bt 1) and the Flat pool on the Association water by locals Andy Sutherland & Robert Flett.
Tomorrow is another day but prospects are not good!
River temp 33 - Sea temp 40.5 - Air temp 41 midday
River Helmsdale Opening day report
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