Near the Texas-Mexico border, Wendell Baker has a few things going for him: his genial nature and optimism and the love of Doreen. His troubles? He dances around telling her that he loves her, and his idea of work is illegal. He's arrested, imprisoned, and she puts him behind her when she realizes that even prison is just a good excuse for him to play football with the guys. When he is paroled, it's to a job in the "hotel industry" at a board and care home for seniors, where the head nurse is running a scam. Three of the residents respond to Wendell's good heart. Can they expose the scam and help Wendell win back Doreen?

Paradise Lake, near Kissimmee, Florida, is hosting a Professional Bass Association contest. Local bait-shop owner and former amateur champ, Bill Dugan, is in deep trouble: the bank wants $15,000 for the shop's mortgage, he doesn't tell his wife who's angry when she finds out, and his wealthy blow-hard father-in-law wants Bill to work for him. The tournament favorite is Hot Rod Johnson, a crowd-pleaser and ESPN darling who'll do anything to win. Bill's son Scott thinks Hot Rod is cool, Hot Rod opens a huge store close to Bill's, his ne'er-do-well pals are ready to desert him, and Bill may lose it all. His one hope is to enter the contest and win the prize. Time to fish or cut bait.