Man’s Favorite Sport?

Willoughby, a top Abercrombie & Fitch salesman, is ordered by his boss to participate in the Lake Wakapoogee fishing tournament. The idea is promoted by Easy Mueller and Abigail Page to boost business. Willoughby reveals he has never fished, hates the touch and taste of fish, and cannot swim, setting up the central conflict.

Abigail promises to teach him fishing before the tournament, while Easy pressures him to accept the role. He arrives at the lodge with a mountain of camping and fishing gear provided by Cadwalader, yet he has no idea how to use any of it. The lessons begin but quickly reveal his lack of practical skills.

Abigail's lessons are clumsy and ineffective, and Willoughby nearly drowns when a boat mishap overturns him. He relies on parroting customers’ advice, not real fishing experience, which makes the looming tournament feel impossible. The situation underscores the comedy of his supposed expertise.

To drop out, Abigail and Easy stage a fake arm injury for Willoughby. They improvise a cast, only for Killroy to unexpectedly have a real cast, and they end up sawing off Willoughby’s cast by mistake. The ruse spirals into a chaotic predicament.

That night, Abigail visits to obtain a sleeping pill and ends up sleeping in Willoughby’s bed. When he returns, he finds himself sleeping on the floor instead. The awkward setup foreshadows the personal tensions during the tournament.

The next morning, Easy arrives looking for Abigail and is surprised when Tex, Willoughby’s fiancée, appears. The tangled romantic situation adds strain before the competition begins. Abigail’s appearance in Willoughby's room deepens the miscommunication.

The three-day tournament starts and Willoughby remains awkward, but sheer luck helps him catch large fish. His improbable catches elevate him to a surprising level of competitiveness. The audience and his peers begin to notice him despite his lack of skill.

On one of the tournament nights, Willoughby walks Abigail to her lodge and they share a kiss. Abigail’s reaction is mixed; she congratulates him with a hint of disappointment, leaving him unsure of what she really feels. The moment marks a turning point in their dynamic.

On the third day, another lucky catch secures his victory in the tournament. The victory is bittersweet as Abigail becomes tearful and urges him to reconsider how he handles the prize. She begs him to refuse the prize and tell the truth to his boss and customers.

Willoughby gathers everyone and confesses, choosing honesty over deceit. Cadwalader fires him, but the crowd respects his integrity. The company reputation shifts as his honesty resonates with observers.

Willoughby goes looking for Abigail who went camping across the lake to be alone. A storm forces them to share her tent, and they fall asleep together, still angry but closer. The tension slowly resolves as they confront their feelings.

Competitors persuade Cadwalader to rehire Willoughby for business reasons, showing that anyone can win with Cadwalader’s equipment. Cadwalader heads onto the lake to find Willoughby, while a storm carries Abigail's tent out to the water. The escalating tension leads toward a final reunion.

Cadwalader delivers the good news of the rehire plan, and Abigail and Willoughby share a kiss again. The storm-abated lake scene seals their reconciliation and hints at a brighter future for both the couple and the business prospects. The timeline closes with them embracing on the water.