112 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



Conan above Achnanault, where there is an ex- 

 cellent inn, runs over a channelly bottom, favour- 

 able 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 descent 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 Ross- 

 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 salmoferox, 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, dependant 

 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 



