River Helmsdale

Anglers should be aware of the legal requirements in place before they book fishing. Each of the rivers within the Far North area have separate sets of rules and/or recommendations and these should be checked prior to booking and/or commencing fishing.

There are also conservation codes, individual beat and booking agency conditions to be considered. Fundamental legislation requires that all anglers have written permission to fish for salmon and sea trout anywhere in Scotland.

Individual owners may have their own individual conditions, such as the hours that fishing is allowed on that beat, provision of ghillies (if any) and what fishing methods you can use.

1. Once you have booked you cannot change your dates or number of rods (the only exception is when you book through the help desk, have notified us of any mistakes within 7 days of the date of making the booking, and provided proper evidence that the mistake is the help desk's and not your own).

2. If you need to change your rod or days, they can be booked separately if you need extra ones and they are available. If you need less rods or days, or decide not to come after all, then we can try to relet them for you, but cannot guarantee to do so. There is a £10 + VAT charge for trying and if successful a further 10% letting fee + VAT.

3. You cannot sublet the fishings you book without our permission and then only by private arrangement and at the same prices and conditions as for this booking. No agent other than ourselves or the fishery manager may be used to help obtain a sublet.

4. Rods may not be shared on any one day without prior permission of the ghillie or fishery manager, which is often refused and should never be relied upon.

5. In Scotland it is illegal to fish without written permission, so you must bring this confirmation, or a copy of it, with you when you fish.

6. Charges: All bookings are subject to a booking charge which will vary according to the amount being booked. The exact charge will be clearly displayed on the very first booking page once you have set what you are wishing to book. There are no charges for processing debit cards. Credit cards can not be used unless you confirm that you are a non EU angler and will be surcharged by 2.5%.

7. Please note that in line with general practice, we cannot give refunds for fishing spoilt by inclement weather or poor water conditions.

8. You must ring the ghillie, or other contact set by the fishery, at least two days before you come, so he knows that you are coming and that you know where and when to meet him. Please remember that for salmon fishing it is customary to give any ghillie a tip at the end of your fishing.

9. You must report full details of any fish caught to the ghillie or other contact provided by the fishery promptly.

10. We have asked fisheries to provide lifejackets or buoyancy aids of a design that will not impair your ability to fish in comfort. We strongly advise you to wear one when using a boat or when wading in strong or deep water. If you don't, you are doing so at your own risk. If you are not happy with the equipment provided, or any other safety issue, please ring us immediately, so that we can arrange for the situation to be rectified. A general guide to safety can be seen by going to this page

11. If you have any problems with the standard of service provided on the fishery, please tell the ghillie or fishery manager straightaway and if you don't get a satisfactory response, please contact the office immediately, so we have time to act before you leave. Failure to do so will severely hamper any chances of us obtaining fair redress for you.

12. To help prevent an outbreak of Gyrodactylus Salaris which has had catastrophic effects on some foreign rivers, all rods fishing must complete a Gyrodactylus declaration on arrival at the fishery. This states that either you have not used your fishing tackle abroad in the last three months, or you have done so and had it properly sterilised, or you have done so and NOT had it sterilised. In the latter case, you must agree to sterilisation taking place before you start fishing, and accept that there may be some delay in getting this organised. A copy of the declaration form can be seen by going to this page and more information on Gyrodactylus by going to this page

13. All bookings are also subject to the conditions set by the relevant fishery.

14. The booking system and its management are at all times acting only as an agent for the fishery. All letting contracts are therefore between the fishery and the person taking the fishing.

15. The system management and/or the fisheries reserve the right to immediately withdraw fishing without compensation from anyone who breaks these or associated conditions, or flouts normal standards of behaviour or fishing etiquette.

16. You need to bring your own fishing equipment (rods, reels, lines, flies etc) unless you have specifically agreed with the fishery well in advance that they supply this for you.

17. You need to be reasonably healthy and mobile to access most fishings. If you are not, you must notify the fishery or ourselves before you book, to ensure that you can be looked after safely and properly.

18. Anglers are reminded that parking of cars should be in designated parking areas and is always at the anglers own risk.

Before booking please make sure that you have read and understood all the conditions that apply - see adjacent Booking Conditions button.

Online

Click on the Week Of link on the left of the relevant week you want to fish in. A new window will open which will take you through our simple online booking system.

You will need a working email address and a debit card to make payment. (Credit cards may only be used by non EU anglers and will be surcharged)

If successful, you will be emailed an immediate booking confirmation, receipt and joining instructions.

The fishery will be notified immediately by their choice of email or text message, so they will know to expect you.

By telephone

Call 01573 470612 between 9am and 5pm on any day except weekends and bank holidays. (From abroad call +441573 470612)

By email

Email the FishPal Office with the dates & rods needed and your phone number. We will email or ring you back, but only when the office is open (Office Hours are Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm excluding English Bank Holidays) and staff are free to do so.

N.B. Online is the best method as any other way will entail delays during which someone else could book the fishings online and you could miss out

Min 1d3r = Minimum acceptable booking for this example of 1 day for 3 rods

Additional 'H' denotes need to book 6 days or half weeks only starting on Mon or Thurs

Additional 'T' denotes need to book 6, 4, or 2 days starting on Mon, Wed or Fri

NOLB = No On Line Booking - you must book through the fishery's named contact

GX = Gillie extra - only provided if available and booked & paid for separately

C&R = Catch and release (all fish have to be returned)

? fish = Number of fish that can be kept per rod

R? = Where booking one rod will mean that another ? rod(s) is also removed and not let

D? = Where beats do not want last minute bookings & rods will drop off lists at 5pm ? days before the date of fishing

DISCOUNTS/SURCHARGES

3d-10% = 3 Days booked together discount of eg: 10%

2r-25% = 2 rods booked together discount of eg: 25%

WS+10% = Weekend surcharge on Saturday or Sunday part of booking of eg: 10%

COMPULSORY ACCOMMODATION

An 'E' stands for an extra charge will be made.

An 'I' stands for charge included in rod price.

Either way you have to stay in the accommodation provided.

HE = Hotel Extra, HI = Hotel included

BE = B&B Extra, BI = B&B included

CE = Cottage Extra, CI = Cottage included

LE = Lodge Extra, LI = Lodge included