The story
From the open pool the reed bed looked solid. A dragonfly crossed the canoe, paused in the air, then vanished through a narrow opening. I followed the gap with my eyes before trusting it with the boat. The light inside was green and gold.
Each paddle stroke sounded enormous. I put the blade across my knees and let the current do the work. A silver flank appeared beneath the bow. For once I left the rod alone; the fish was moving slowly enough to show me where the channel bent.
The corridor opened beside a bank of smooth stone. I ate an apple, drew three crooked reeds in the notebook and watched their reflections become straight whenever the wind stopped. The best discovery of the morning had required no cast at all.
Some chapters are worth entering without a plan to catch anything.