: Five men, having abandoned all affairs, unsuccessfully try to pull out a burbot hiding under a snag. The master does not stand it and joins the fishermen, but all efforts are in vain - the burbot leaves.

Two carpenters, Gerasim and Love, have been trying for a long time to pull the burbot out from under the driftwood. They scurry around, give each other advice, but they cannot get the fish out. Both fishermen know that you need to pull out the burbot by grabbing by the gills, however, the head of the fish is under the snag, and you can’t grab it. After a long time, the old shepherd Yefim joins them, chasing the herd past. His intervention does not lead to anything, and the herd left unattended is taken into the garden. This causes dissatisfaction with the master Andrei Andreich. The barin rebukes the shepherd for not having noticed the herd, and the carpenters for not building a bathhouse.

The excitement of the fisherman takes over, and Andrei Andreich orders his coachman Vasily to go into the water. Even the intervention of the fourth man does not lead to anything - the burbot sat deep. The master decides to take control of the situation himself and joins the burbot hunters, but this does not lead to anything.Finally, the carpenter Lyubim decides to chop the snag. Having cut the burbot shelter, Andrei Andreich manages to grab him by the gills. The head of a hefty fish is raised to the surface, there is no limit to the joy of fishermen. Suddenly, their prey beats its tail and again finds itself at large. Everyone spreads their hands, but it's too late - the burbot is gone.