MARCH-APRIL 2020 THE ROBERTSONS Swampy Springtime Recipes PG. 16 KVD VS. JIMMY HOUSTON Old School Meets New School PG. 32 EASTON CORBIN Keeps It Country PG.24 THE LUNKER LIST Gear You Should Buy PG. 10 THE NEW BENELLI SBE3 Performance Shop Turkey Shotgun PG. 41 Gits-R-Done on His New TourSELLER SERVICES: We showcase your property to millions of potential buyers through our innovative property marketing strategy and massive advertising plan, including our new TV show hosted by NFL legend Brett Favre! NEW TV SHOW! AIRING 3 DAYS/WEEK Only On www.HaydenOutdoors.com Land Brokers & Agents Wanted! LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL LAND? • Excellent Training Program • Unsurpassed Marketing Plan • Exceptional People • Work in the Great Outdoors! 970-674-1990 Since 1976 we’ve brought buyers and sellers together for millions of acres! BUYER SERVICES: The experienced team at Hayden Outdoors Real Estate can help you find your next hunting property, cattle ranch, working farm, financial investment or rural retreat in 14 states and growing.View Over 600 Exclusive Properties For Sale At www.HaydenOutdoors.com02 @HOOKANDBARRELMAG | HOOKANDBARREL.COM @HOOKANDBARRELMAG 03 42 MODEST DREAMS, HUGE SUCCESS Larry the Cable Guy makes a difference one joke at a time. by jim hannaford 48 SPRING HAS SPRUNG! A few tips and tricks to get the most out of your outdoor adventures. 54 THE THRILL OF THE ’GILL If high-speed bass fishing’s got you wound up, a relaxing trip for bluegill might just be the ultimate chill pill. by jeff johnston TABLE OF CONTENTS MARCH-APRIL 2020VOLUME THREE, ISSUE TWO All material is strictly copyright protected and all rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the copyright holder. All prices and data are correct at the time of publication. The views and opinions expressed in Hook & Barrel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the advertisers. Any images supplied are at the owner’s risk and are the property of the Hook & Barrel Magazine. All content is owned in full by Hook & Barrel Magazine. Proudly Printed in America Hook & Barrel is a proud partner in the PrintReleaf program. PrintReleaf guarantees every sheet of paper we consume in the production of our magazine will be reforested. New trees are planted on our behalf in PrintReleaf Certified Reforestation Projects across the globe. Larry the Cable Guy launches his new tour, Remain Seated, this spring. For more details visit: www.larrythecableguy.com/tour/ Photo by Scott Bruhn ON THE COVER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John J. Radzwilla MANAGING EDITOR Lee M. Hurley CONSULTING EDITOR Matt Morgan PRODUCTION MANAGER Jill Christiansen COPY EDITOR Barry Wise Smith CREATIVE DIRECTOR Claire Cormany PHOTO EDITOR Chris Irwin CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Natalie Radzwilla EDITORIAL OFFICE 1012 W. Eldorado Parkway P.O. Box 183 Little Elm, Texas 75068 214.997.1118 hookandbarrel.com CONTACT THE EDITOR editor@hookandbarrel.com FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@hookandbarrel.com EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Materials to be considered for use in Hook & Barrel Magazine should be emailed to editor@hookandbarrel.com or mailed to editorial office. Not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or other materials. Returns only when accompanied by return postage. We do not recommend sending original photography or artwork. SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe or manage your subscription to Hook & Barrel Magazine, visit www.hookandbarrel.com. PHO T O B Y CHRIS IR WIN WISDOM The great outdoors. GIVING BACK Bass Pro Shops–connecting kids back to nature. 08 THE LUNKER LIST Gear you should buy this spring. 10 06 EDITOR’S NOTE 04 16 GOOD GRUB Cooking with the Robertsons. THE TROPHY ROOM Professional angler Skye Burkhardt on fishing, family, and her rad tattoos. BACK PAGE Top five most annoying fishing buddies. 64 60 41 32 36 MUST HAVE GEAR Benelli’s new Performance Shop SBE3 Turkey shotgun. HOW TO Jimmy Houston vs. Kevin VanDam. PRO TIPS The legend of Bill Dance. 24 28 NEW TUNES Easton Corbin—classic sounds for a modern audience. THE WILDLIFE Rob Keck—the godfather of turkey hunting. 20 HAPPY HOUR The boon of the Mason jar. CAN YOU SPOT THE HOOK & BARREL CRITTER? Each issue, the Critter is hiding somewhere in the table of contents picture. Happy hunting!02 @HOOKANDBARRELMAG | HOOKANDBARREL.COM @HOOKANDBARRELMAG 03 42 MODEST DREAMS, HUGE SUCCESS Larry the Cable Guy makes a difference one joke at a time. by jim hannaford 48 SPRING HAS SPRUNG! A few tips and tricks to get the most out of your outdoor adventures. 54 THE THRILL OF THE ’GILL If high-speed bass fishing’s got you wound up, a relaxing trip for bluegill might just be the ultimate chill pill. by jeff johnston TABLE OF CONTENTS MARCH-APRIL 2020VOLUME THREE, ISSUE TWO All material is strictly copyright protected and all rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the copyright holder. All prices and data are correct at the time of publication. The views and opinions expressed in Hook & Barrel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the advertisers. Any images supplied are at the owner’s risk and are the property of the Hook & Barrel Magazine. All content is owned in full by Hook & Barrel Magazine. Proudly Printed in America Hook & Barrel is a proud partner in the PrintReleaf program. PrintReleaf guarantees every sheet of paper we consume in the production of our magazine will be reforested. New trees are planted on our behalf in PrintReleaf Certified Reforestation Projects across the globe. Larry the Cable Guy launches his new tour, Remain Seated, this spring. For more details visit: Photo by Scott Bruhn ON THE COVER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John J. Radzwilla MANAGING EDITOR Lee M. Hurley CONSULTING EDITOR Matt Morgan PRODUCTION MANAGER Jill Christiansen COPY EDITOR Barry Wise Smith CREATIVE DIRECTOR Claire Cormany PHOTO EDITOR Chris Irwin CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Natalie Radzwilla EDITORIAL OFFICE 1012 W. Eldorado Parkway P.O. Box 183 Little Elm, Texas 75068 214.997.1118 hookandbarrel.com CONTACT THE EDITOR FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Materials to be considered for use in Hook & Barrel Magazine should be emailed to office. Not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or other materials. Returns only when accompanied by return postage. We do not recommend sending original photography or artwork. SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe or manage your subscription to Hook & Barrel Magazine, visit PHO T O B Y CHRIS IR WIN WISDOM The great outdoors. GIVING BACK Bass Pro Shops–connecting kids back to nature. 08 THE LUNKER LIST Gear you should buy this spring. 10 06 EDITOR’S NOTE 04 16 GOOD GRUB Cooking with the Robertsons. THE TROPHY ROOM Professional angler Skye Burkhardt on fishing, family, and her rad tattoos. BACK PAGE Top five most annoying fishing buddies. 64 60 41 32 36 MUST HAVE GEAR Benelli’s new Performance Shop SBE3 Turkey shotgun. HOW TO Jimmy Houston vs. Kevin VanDam. PRO TIPS The legend of Bill Dance. 24 28 NEW TUNES Easton Corbin—classic sounds for a modern audience. THE WILDLIFE Rob Keck—the godfather of turkey hunting. 20 HAPPY HOUR The boon of the Mason jar. CAN YOU SPOT THE HOOK & BARREL CRITTER? Each issue, the Critter is hiding somewhere in the table of contents picture. Happy hunting!04 @HOOKANDBARRELMAG | HOOKANDBARREL.COM hen I first began thinking about this issue, I was so excited. We had huge names from the fishing industry making an appearance, a great cover, and some out- standing lifestyle sections. What worried me were the feature stories that we were missing. I didn’t want to run an ordinary, run-of-the-mill bass fishing feature you could find anywhere. We pride ourselves on outside-of-the-box stories that speak to the common man and also to the lifestyle we all enjoy—and I was look- ing for that story desperately. My phone rang a few days later, and it was one of our senior writers, Jeff Johnston, calling. I’ve have a lot of respect for John- ston. He writes for some of the biggest magazine titles out there, so without hesitation I listened to his pitch. “Radz,” he said, “I ‘ve got a story for you. What do you think of a six-page feature on bluegill fishing?” Was he out of his mind? A trophy bass fishing junkie like Jeff, pitching me a bluegill story in a serious bass fishing issue? Clearly, he had been hitting the cervezas again like the ones we enjoyed together on our last fishing adventure in Mexico. “Trust me man, this is going to be a good one.” The pitch smelled fishy to me, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt—not to mention I was in need of a feature story. “Let’s do it,” I said with a prompt gulp of my cerveza. “Let’s roll the dice.” Weeks passed, and my nerves were getting the better of me while I awaited Johnston’s bluegill masterpiece… we were a day past deadline, and I knew there was no turning back at that point when my email lit up. “Gents, I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I’d forgotten to send this yesterday. So here it is.” I couldn’t read it fast enough to see how screwed we were. To the contrary, as usual, Johnston delivered. It was a master- piece but not because it disclosed revolutionary fishing tricks or new technology—he used a simple cane pole. Not because he reeled in an elusive species in some far-flung jungle like Jeremy Wade on River Monsters—he caught bluegill on a lake down the road from me—but because Jeff captured the spirit and excitement that hooked us all as kids. His story transported me back to simpler times, my first bluegill and the bite that started it all. It got me thinking about life in general and how we are all on the search for our next “trophy” when sometimes the real trophy is already in front of us. It is the simple things in life like kids smiling, a modest fish fry with friends and family, or a cane pole and a cricket on a warm spring evening. Why do we put so much pressure on our- selves to “catch the big one” when God has dealt most of us a pretty fair hand? I feel like nowadays society puts so much expectation on us to one-up our last accomplishments that we never have the chance to slow down or even celebrate our last success. We look past the greatness we have in our hands, missing special moments, be- cause we are continuously in search of the next best thing. This spring, slow down. Consider why you are really doing things. Is it because our over-connected, social media-driven world delivers a message of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)? Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses of Instagram? Are you comparing yourself to someone else you think is accomplishing more than you? What is your trophy in life? There are days when you will hate your job. There will be moments where you will look around at all that others have and forget about what you have. There will be days when you feel less than because you are not catching the “big one”. Just stop and think about all that you are grateful for. List it out in your head: first of all, waking up, a roof over your head, a few bucks in your wallet, maybe a good dog who’s your best friend, or a brother or sister (by birth or by choice) who will be there for you without delay. Those are the true trophies in life. Sometimes it’s not about the 10-pound lunker but the quarter- pound bluegill. So get out there, take a kid fishing, fry up that catch and share it with family, take a deep breath of fresh air, and focus less on the catch and more on the process that got you there. Those moments and memories are much more fulfilling than any Billy bass up on the wall. Y’all have a blessed spring, and thank you for reading Hook & Barrel. Y’all are my trophy. All my best, W John J. Radzwilla editor-in-chief EDITOR’S NOTE AD One of my first bluegill catches as a young boy. I have been hooked ever since! The Smallest Moments are the Biggest Trophies 06 @HOOKANDBARRELMAG | HOOKANDBARREL.COM HOOKANDBARREL.COM | @HOOKANDBARRELMAG 07 he thrill of getting out on the waters of central Missouri, making a catch, and experiencing the joys and wonder of the outdoors are just as vivid and powerful today as they were when I was a child. Those experiences, getting outside and enjoying nature and all it has to offer, drew me to a lifetime of ser- vice in the field of conservation. Through my work as a field biol- ogist during my 25-year career at the Missouri Department of Con- servation, I was able to see first hand the important role hunters and anglers play every day when it comes to conservation. There can be no doubt that sportsmen and sportswomen are among America’s strongest conservationists, which is why I was honored to join Bass Pro Shops in 2016 to help advance key con- servation priorities across America. Working under the visionary leadership of Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, together we are engaging people like never before and making a difference for the next generation. An avid angler and conservationist at heart, Johnny often is referred to as a “modern-day Theodore Roosevelt” for his personal commitment and dedication to conservation efforts. Like Johnny, my personal experiences and love of the outdoors is something I passed down to my own children, ensuring they appreciate all the rich natural resources we are blessed with, and the importance of strong conservation practices to make sure future generations have the same opportunities we have. In fact, connecting new audiences to nature is a key pillar of our conserva- tion efforts at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. With the average American child spending a staggering eight hours a day staring at a screen, it’s more important than ever to ensure we all help more kids fall in love with nature. We can’t do it alone, which is why Johnny is leading an unprecedented alliance of sportsmen and sportswomen, non-profit conservation partners, and grassroots community organizations to help reverse this trend. Together, we’re introducing a new generation to the outdoors through a series of bold programs. For example, Outdoor Adventur- ers is a nature-based education initiative in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation aimed at introducing the wonders of the outdoors to children from urban areas in kindergarten through fifth grade. Our free Outdoor Days events connect an additional 300,000 kids and their families to outdoor activities through a series of events in several states, with hands-on and immersive activities for all ages and skill levels. Everyone has a role to play when it comes to conservation, and we have made it easier than ever to make a positive difference for the future. Through the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, we invite our customers—more than 200 million passionate sportsmen and sportswomen annually—to round up their purchase prices in our stores, with the additional money raised going into the fund to facilitate nationwide conservation efforts. We also encourage shoppersto bring in gently used rods and reels during our annual Spring Fishing Classic event. We’ll give a credit toward a new rod and reel combo, and—after we clean and restore the old gear—donate it to a local community-based youth organiza- tion that helps connect kids to nature as part of our Gone Fishing event, which invites kids to put down digital devices and pick up a fishing pole. Over the last five years alone, we have donated more than 400,000 products to youth-focused non-profit organizations. We’re working tirelessly to bring smiles to the faces of millions of kids and using their boundless laughter and enthusiasm to fuel our passion for making a lasting impact. Hunters and anglers have a responsibility to join the movement and pass our rich heritage down to the next generation. Please join Johnny Morris in his call to help inspire the next generation to enjoy, love, and conserve the great outdoors. Sincerely, T AD Bass Pro Shops–Connecting Kids Back to Nature. At Hook & Barrel, we are firm believers in giving back to the greater good. In each issue, we showcase a business, group, or organization that gives back. Conservation is a team effort and takes many forms: from habitat and species conservation to preserving hunting and fishing rights or growing the sports by introducing new folks to the joys of the outdoors. Some of our key focuses are kids in the outdoors, habitat and wildlife, and veterans who protect our rights as Americans to live the lifestyle we all enjoy. Bob Ziehmer Senior Director of Conservation Bass Pro Shops GIVING BACK Bob Ziehmer and Johnny Morris. Next >