WATCH: River Helmsdale opens for 2022 season with parade and ceremonial first cast
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The ceremonial first cast has been made on the River Helmsdale, opening the new angling season for 2022.
Yvonne Grant, who runs the village's fishing tackle, country and outdoors shop Glencoast, performed the honours earlier today, watched by a large number of anglers, visitors and local people.
It is the first time in three years the ceremony has been carried out with the coronavirus pandemic leading to its cancellation in 2020 and 2021.
Ms Grant first marched down Dunrobin Street behind piper April Sutherland and accompanied by River Helmsdale fishery board manager Michael Wigan.
For the first time local schoolchildren, waving cardboard salmon they had each designed, were included in the parade.
The procession gathered at the roundabout in front of the bridge, where Mr Wigan addressed the waiting crowd.
He said: “We have been waiting two years for this but since that time plenty of fish have run through the river and last year, we think, there was a reasonable migration and this year there will be too.
“The Scottish Government has now announced through the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that restoring salmon is a national priority.”
Mr Wigan thanked everyone for coming and said Ms Grant had been asked to undertake the first cast last year, before the event was cancelled.
Ms Grant also "christened" the river by throwing in an alcoholic drink.
As in previous years, fishing anywhere on the Helmsdale is free to all without charge until Monday, January 24.
Ms Grant said she had so far issued around 120 permits through Glencoast, around double the number she had anticipated.
