By slow degrees I advanced the hazel rod, keeping it at first near to
and parallel with the bank, because jack do not like anything that
stretches across them; and I imagine other fish have the same dislike to
right angles. The straight shadow even seems to arouse suspicion--no
boughs are ever straight. Perhaps, if it were possible to angle without
a rod, there would be more success, particularly in small streams. But
after getting the stick almost out far enough, it became evident that
the dead branch would not let me slip the wire into the water in front
of the jack in the usual way. So I had to draw it back again as
gradually as it had been put forth.

With fish everything must be done gradually and without a jerk. A sudden
jerking movement immediately alarms them. If you walk gently by they
remain still, but start or lift the arm quickly and they dart for deep
water. The object of withdrawing the rod was to get at and enlarge the
loop in order that it might be slipped over his tail, since the head was
protected by the bough. It is a more delicate operation to pass the wire
up from behind; it has to go farther before the spot that allows a firm
grip is reached, and fish are well aware that natural objects such as
twigs float down with the current. Anything, therefore, approaching from
behind or rubbing upwards is suspicious. As this fish had just been
startled, it would not do to let the wire touch him at all.

After enlarging the loop I put the rod slowly forth again, worked the
wire up stream, slipped the noose over his tail, and gently got it up to
the balance of the fish. Waiting a moment to get the elbow over the end
of the rod so as to have a good leverage, I gave a sudden jerk upwards,
and felt the weight instantly. But the top of the rod struck the
overhanging bough, and there was my fish, hung indeed, but still in the
water near the surface. Nor could I throw it on the bank, because of the