Towns > Helensburgh > 1875 - Battrum's guide and directory to Helensburgh and neighbourhood

122 HELENSBURGH GUIDE.
favourite haunts of this tyrant of the lake. In the reedy
channels behind the islands, near Luss shore, they are also
found; but towards the head of the loch they are more abun-
dant than at any other part. They are taken with spoon
bait, par-tail, and minnow, but the best bait of all is a small
silvery roach. An epicurean pike will dash at this when he
spurns every other delicacy of the season. Pike are in season
in the loch from August till January. In spring they are
not worth taking. The powan was long considered peculiar to
to Lochlomond, but there are other Highland lochs, chiefly
in proximity to the sea, where it is found. It has many points
of resemblance in common with the herring, and, indeed, as
Lochlomond may have been subject to the same tidal in-
fluence as the Clyde, at one period of its history, there is
every reason to assume that the powan is the herring accli-
matised to fresh water. Herring still ascend the Clyde
occasionally, as far as Dumbarton Rock : we have seen them
even higher. A very slight change of level, and that such
change has taken place seems confirmed by traces of a
former sea-margin along the shore of the Clyde, would carry
flood tide up to Lochlomond, and thus introduce sea-fish
into it. The powan, like the herring, seems to feed chiefly
on minute larvse or zoophytes. It is not, or but rarely,
taken with the rod, though formerly largely fished with the
net. When well cooked, it is not a contemptible fish, and
has often, in former times, passed current and probably still
graces the Cockney tourist's breakfast table as Lochlomond
trout. A good many salmon are found in the Loch from
May onwards, but they are as a rule shy. To ensure suc-
cess a strong breeze of south-west wind is necessary, and a
knowledge of their favourite haunts. The flies used for sea
trout are in general suitable.