Lou Gehrig, Angler (Part 4)

Following the Yankees World Series victory in 1936, Lou Gehrig celebrated by sticking to his 3 Rs for the off-season—reading, rest and relaxation. Just days before being named the American League’s Most Valuable Player, Lou started out on a fishing trip with his father and friend Fred Fletcher near Table Rock off Larchmont, New York. Using whole soft clams for bait, the trio landed half a dozen blackfish and two dozen flounders. Two days later, Lou, Eleanor and Fred joined a group on Captain Guy Davis’ charter boat that headed out into the Great South Bay. Fishing on the ebb tide, the anglers began to haul in yellow fins, weighing in at from three to eight pounds. That afternoon, Captain Davis followed the incoming tide with somewhat less luck. Most of these fish were hooked from 300 to 500 feet behind the boat, so many were able to throw the hook before being netted. The fishermen and fisherwomen were able to land over seventy, keeping a few but releasing the majority. Lou declared it was the best day of fishing he ever had. Obviously, he thought there was no better way to spend a day than on the water with friends and hungry fish. Who could disagree?