Under a large dead bough that had fallen across its top in the stream I saw the long slender fish lying a few feet from the bank, motionless save for the gentle curving wave of the tail edges.

So faint was that waving curl that it seemed caused rather by the flow of the current than the volition of the fish.

The wings of the swallow work the whole of the longest summer day, but the fins of the fish in running water are never still: day and night they move continuously.
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.