Possible Clues:

• Closely observed freshwater fish, so to speak
• Took notice of
• Looked at the big prize
• Gave it the once-over, having said I would
• Observed I would shortly, so to speak
• Used binoculars
• Spotted fish in sound
• That's what one did, by the look of it
• Scanned a newspaper leader about the old
• Dewy-___