120 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



Conan above Achnanault, where there is an excellent 

 inn, runs over a channelly bottom, favourable to the 

 spawning of trout, which, however, are not quite so 

 plentiful as one would naturally expect. This arises 

 partly from the depredations of their enemies, the pike, 

 partly from the cannibalism of the giants of their own 

 species, and perhaps also from the long-continued de- 

 scent of snow-water into Conan during spring and the 

 early part of summer. There are, however, in many of 

 the pools heavy and well-conditioned fish. These wink 

 at a small fly, and love better the bushy and bearded 

 lure, or else a spinning bait worth darting after, that 

 gleams across them when the water is quick and swollen. 



A mile or two above Achnanault, the Conan 

 leaves Loch Gowan, a sheet of water of no very 

 great extent, but celebrated above all others in Boss- 

 shire for the size of the trout it affords. These 

 weigh generally from three to ten pounds. I can- 

 not say with accuracy whether any heavier ones 

 have been captured. I suspect not a great number, 

 for the range of water is by no means extensive a 

 mere pool in size compared with Loch Awe or Shin 

 and the fish is evidently not the salmo ferox, but 

 a lake trout of inferior description, differing from it 

 both in its shape and general features. Like all 

 large trout, it has certain feeding hours, dependent 

 frequently upon the state of the weather, but for the 

 most part regularly timed off by sun and shade. 

 During these only it can be taken, either by a dark 



