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 fish were clean and they returned to taking flies in the normal manner. There was evidence on many fish of recovery from the fungus earlier in the season. At the end of the season the capture programme for broodstock salmon was completed faster than usual. The DNA work being done to assess the contribution to migratory runs made by hatchery…

Source: Helmsdale – 7 December 2019