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THE HELMSDALE
There is possibly no more productive salmon fishing river in all Scotland, mile for mile, than the Helmsdale. It flows for only some twenty five miles from the complex of high lochs which give it life, yet it provides twelve beats of the most exclusive and varied salmon fishing, offering sport from its unusually early opening in mid-January to the last day of its season at the end of September.
It is, of course, not a water which is easy to gain access to in its main season (to put it mildly), although two things should be said to soften this. Firstly, some local hotels in Helmsdale have lets of spring fishing available. Secondly, subject to rules of residency, the local angling club has some tickets to sell for the fishings on the lowest section of the river. There can also be some fishing available on two of its tributaries, the Kinbrace river, often referred to as the Bannock Burn, and the Free (or Frithe) at Borrobol. The Free is let with holiday cottages. Given water in summer these tributaries can be good for salmon and sea-trout.
The river itself is fascinating. It draws its water from the high moors and lochs inland and,
with hill burns and waters to swell its flow, it runs through moorland scenery to Kildonan
where there are important falls which divide the river into lower and upper sections. There
are six proprietors of the Helmsdale and each estate has an upper and a lower beat available
for its tenants. Two rods only fish each estate and the rods may choose where they fish,
upper or lower. In spring the lower river, below the Falls of Kildonan is where the first
springers are taken.
After mid-March, the upper river comes more and more into its own and
in summer the whole system is well stocked with salmon, grilse and sea-trout. There is a
system of water control from the Badanloch which greatly improves the productivity of the
river. The Helmsdale is known for its remarkable valley, the Strath of Kildonan, whose
heather-clad hills form a setting of great splendour and serenity for this unusual and
attractive river.
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