Stop press......We have the Rs Willie Gunn Flaming Firetail on a "buy one get one free" this week which you can snap up right here - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-willie-gunn-firetail.html

The fishing on the Helmsdale has been steadybut not explosive recently as water falls away. The good news is that there are plenty fish in the river and this should hold the rest of the season in good stead - lots of fish still to be caught so keep your hooks sharpened if you have fishing booked.

RS Willie Gunn Flaming Firetail

So August can be a very exciting part of the season, many rivers have had the best of the summer run but fresh fish are still running with a bigger average size.

Growing up in the highlands of Scotland offered me an amazing selection of salmon fishing and memories are bountiful of great catches on a variety of rivers. Flies too have had wonderful variety over the years and have evolved with new materials, ideas and tactics, but there is one little cracker which stands out for me personally and I think many from the Highlands may recognise it.

A little bit of background information, I first came across it on the Thurso and Wick rivers where dark spate waters run, this was a killer fly for me and many others. I was so impressed with its performance that it wasn’t long before it became my “go to” fly as soon as the water was freshened up with that lovely peaty whisky tone after heavy rain. The fly? A Copper King. As to the inventor? I do not know but what a superb fly, so, I have decided to bring it back to life using the best new materials and hooks available using Loop, Partridge Patriot (red & gold) and Fulling Mill Magni gold doubles.

These are very special flies and I am now offering them in only limited edition selections similar to the one you can see below. Once re-launched I will take Copper King orders individually flies on preferred hooks but for the moment only selections are available for you to indulge in. If you want to bring back a little bit of deadly fly history then grab a selection as soon as you see them because they with disappear very fast! They will come bagged or boxed in a great little 4 x 3” waterproof pocket box.

Another exclusive from Helmsdale Company, click this link to ensure you are lucky enough to secure a selection - https://www.helmsdalecompany.com/rs-copper-king-limited-edition-set

The awesome RS Limited Edition Copper King set on Loop, Partridge and Fulling Mill Magni doubles

Boxed set

Loop double

Partridge Patriot red double

Patriot gold double