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MARCH-APRIL 2022 HOOKING MILLIONS Bass Pro’s U.S. Open PG. 64 CLAYTON ANDERSON’S Hit Song “Show Me Your Fish” PG. 26 THE LUNKER LIST PG. 8 DISHES ON HIS LOVE FOR THE OUTDOORS MUSCLE SHOALS There’s Something in the Water PG. 70 GUY FIERI Aims to Get New Shooters on the Range PG. 56 DISHES ON HIS LOVE FOR THE OUTDOORSWe’ll Show You Around! When you visit Springfi eld, Missouri, ask a local! We know the best watering holes. Whether it’s enjoying a beverage at one of the many local craft breweries or cruising down one of our scenic water trails, we’ll point you in the right direction! It’s easy to get lost in the great outdoors here, so make sure you stock up on all of your essentials at the original and largest Bass Pro Shops and take advantage of the beautiful Ozarks. See you in Springfi eld! Point your smartphone camera at this QR code to fi nd out more about things to do in Springfi eld. Come See Us in Springfield… SpringfieldMo.orgWe’ll Show You Around! When you visit Springfi eld, Missouri, ask a local! We know the best watering holes. Whether it’s enjoying a beverage at one of the many local craft breweries or cruising down one of our scenic water trails, we’ll point you in the right direction! It’s easy to get lost in the great outdoors here, so make sure you stock up on all of your essentials at the original and largest Bass Pro Shops and take advantage of the beautiful Ozarks. See you in Springfi eld! Point your smartphone camera at this QR code to fi nd out more about things to do in Springfi eld. Come See Us in Springfield… SpringfieldMo.org58 GUY FIERI’S WILD SIDE TV’s famous chef throws down on the outdoors. by jim hannaford 64 MILLION-DOLLAR MEMORIES Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open Bass Fishing Tournament by pete robbins 70 THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER The magic of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. by jim hannaford TABLE OF CONTENTS MARCH-APRIL 2022VOLUME FIVE, ISSUE TWO WISDOM The great outdoors. THE LUNKER LIST 06 08 EDITOR’S NOTE 04 14 19 26 31 GOOD GRUB Chef Taichi Kitamura, the fishiest guy in Seattle. HAPPY HOUR Whiskey: up your drinking— and sporting—game. JAMMING OUT Clayton Anderson releases “Show Me Your Fish.” FIELD TRIP At 150, Old Yellowstone remains awe-inspiring. OPINION The cowboy way. THE WILD LIFE Muscadine Bloodline goes grassroots onstage and in the outdoors. ON THE COVER Shoot United™ attracts newcomers to the shooting sports. HOW TO Fishing for answers. 43 49 56 39 78 TROPHY ROOM Sadie Bass is set to make a name for herself in Nashville. 80 LAST LAUGH A passion for steelhead. CAN YOU SPOT THE HOOK & BARREL CRITTER? Each issue, the Critter is hiding somewhere in the table of contents picture. Happy hunting!HOOKANDBARREL.COM | @HOOKANDBARRELMAG 03 DEER UNCLE TED ate, if the wild turkey had a decent sense of smell, they would be unkillable! Their swivel-headed eyes and sharp ears are second to none, and they are acutely aware of death attempts from every angle, so their sixth sense of survival is a force to reckon with. The basic four species are the big, wary Eastern, the beautiful Merriam’s, the iridescent Rio Grande, and the Florida Osceola. (The Gould’s and Oscillated are available as well.) All species are highly tuned in to their surroundings and take special care and supreme predatorship to defeat their amazing wariness. Good calling, good camo, patience, a good decoy, maybe even a popup groundblind, the proper turkey load in a properly patterned shotgun, an accurate deer hunting archery setup, and getting into position on good turkey ground pretty much sums up the strategy for bagging the mighty ThunderChicken of America. Springtime is the best season for killing the big bird, but fall seasons are a load of fun as well. Go slow, be your ultimate sneaky self, aim small, miss small, and good luck. –Ted N I’ve been a deer hunter all my life but never got the wild turkey bug ’til now. There is a plethora of information out there about turkey hunting, but I thought I would consult the one and only WhackMaster for your take on how I should go about getting my first American gobbler. Thanks for all you do for our American freedoms all these years. NATE J., NEBRASKA To ask Ted Nugent your question, simply email him at UncleTed@hookandbarrel.com. Maybe you’ll see his response in a future issue! Ted Nugent is an award-winning musician and writer, with numerous best-selling books including Ted, White and Blue: The Nugent Manifesto, God, Guns and Rock ‘n Roll, and Kill It and Grill It. Also, his popular television show, Spirit of the Wild, has aired over 500 episodes. 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. Guy Fieri celebrates his love of the great outdoors, and a whole lot more. ON THE COVER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John J. Radzwilla CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Natalie Radzwilla MANAGING EDITOR Lee M. Hurley CREATIVE DIRECTOR Claire Cormany COPY EDITOR Barry Wise Smith OFFICIAL FFL Black-Tie Guns 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.04 @HOOKANDBARRELMAG | HOOKANDBARREL.COM EDITOR’S NOTE feel like we have all heard about the importance of getting kids in the outdoors early. But it didn’t sink in fully until my son, Jack, “caught” his first bass last summer. To see it firsthand with someone so near and dear to me, it set the hook harder in my heart than KVD setting a top water on a 10-pound bass at sunrise. Excitement oozed from his little two-year-old body; he giggled uncontrollably; and once reeled in, he exclaimed, “pish, daddy, pish.” I will never forget it. To be clear, Jack was not running a baitcaster at two nor was I trying to teach him that. Heck, I can barely run one at 37 half the time. It was about getting him outside and having him “help” me fish. It also didn’t go perfectly—at one point he fell in (dad-of-the-year-award recipient right here…) and we had to go home to change his soaked diaper and water-filled boots. But the second time was the charm. We were fishing in a pond that I knew was pretty much devoid of life. To my surprise, after about 100 casts, three crying fits, and several ant bites, I felt a hit and instantly set the hook. (Almost knocking Jack in again.) With the fish fighting, I knelt and handed the rod to Jack, and we both reeled it in. It was an awfully ambitious little bass. May have weighed in at a pound. Of course, I told Jack it was at least four pounds so I could instill the fine art of lying about fish in him at an early age too. Jack now loves fishing, and for his birthday this year, I bought him his first “pishing pool.” The hook was set, and I know he will grow up to love the outdoors. But it’s something that you have to be consistent about in order for the allure of tablets, television, and video games to not fully take hold. Anytime I can, I take him to our deer camp, and when I go without him, he gets angry. The other day I was there to do some work on the land that wouldn’t have been doable with a toddler underfoot. I sent images home though for his mom to show him, and he began to demand, “my deer pamp, me!” It’s working—I am growing a future outdoorsman, conservationist, and man who will soon learn the hard work it takes to maintain nature's beauty and function. In this issue, we meet some extraordinary people who too have a passion for the outdoors. None more so than Johnny Morris. Books could be written on his conservation efforts, but I would bet money that no effort was more impactful than his U.S. Open Bass Fishing Tournament (page 64). I chuckle at the thought of Jimmy Houston, Bill Dance, KVD, Roland Martin, and others watching that tournament kick off. Millions of dollars on the line, and every single pro angler had to sit it out. It must have been like caged duck dogs on opening day watching birds landing from the back of the truck. Sure, Johnny has done bigger things—like the Wonders of Wildlife Museum—but I think physically putting rods in the hand of amateurs and kids for “on the job” training was far more impactful. Just like society, millions can pass through an attraction, but it is the few shepherds that mind the flock that matter. We need more of those. Cultivating the next generation of pro anglers, like he did, was a genius move in my opinion. Next, give our Wild Life section a read (page 49). The voices behind Muscadine Bloodline, an independent country music act, were able to bag some great birds in South Dakota despite a late spring blizzard. One of the members of the band, Charlie Muncaster, was new to the sport. After the hunt, he too was hooked. Just goes to show you that no matter your age, mentorship plants seeds. A year later, Muncaster is an avid turkey hunter and conservationist for the National Wild Turkey Federation. Then there is our cover story, Guy Fieri (page 58). Guy is beyond busy. From his shows, to appearances, his restaurants and new projects, he is spread quite thin. He still finds time for his passions: hunting and fishing. Most don’t know that he is an avid outdoorsman. It’s not commonly made public (until now) that he is ate up with hunting and fishing. He too knows the importance of time outside with family, and he and his sons escape to wet a line as often as they have the opportunity. It all comes down to a message I have been preaching since Hook & Barrel’s first issue. We can conserve all the species and habitat we want, but until we truly conserve the outdoorsman, it will all be for naught. Find time to be a mentor or find a mentor, and just do it…, more than once. This is not a transactional effort—it takes time just as a seed takes time to sprout and then requires care to ensure growth. This spring, plant seeds to grow trees that will stand tall for years to come. Have a blessed spring y’all, John J. Radzwilla editor-in-chief I Contact 877.585.2853 www.xinsurance.com info@xinsurance.com XINSURANCE is powered by Evolution Insurance Brokers, LC (“EIB”), an excess and surplus lines insurance brokerage. XINSURANCE is a DBA of EIB, which is domiciled in and has its principal place of business in Sandy, Utah. This insurance product is offered by an unlicensed surplus lines insurer. The NPN for EIB is 5464658 and CA license number is 0H93938. 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Your commitment to our world continues to make a difference. IT’S YOUR CHOICE My friend Dean is not the kind of turkey hunter to sit still and wait for a turkey to come to his calls. He is constantly moving, doing what he calls a “walk- about,” looking for turkeys or listening for a distant gobble. If he finds them he sneaks in, sits up using natural cover, and tries to call the gobbler in. If it doesn’t, he is off again trying to find another gobbler. Since I am an old guy I prefer to know where the turkeys are roosting and have a blind already set up nearby when they fly down. I wait patiently, keep calling and can usually bring a gobbler in strutting and looking for love. I have taken a lot of gobblers over many years of hunting just by staying put. Dean has also taken many gobblers while doing his “walkabouts.” Running and gunning for turkeys or staying put. They both work, so it’s your choice. COMMUNICATING WITH KIDS A great way to improve communication with your kids is involvement in the outdoor traditions of fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking. Outdoor activities take you away from the distractions of everyday life and put you in touch with nature. There are no TVs or smart phones (if you turn them off ) to interfere in the great outdoors. It’s a perfect environment for listening and talking. Circle Sunday, March 20th on your calendar in red. Put that date in your phone calendar with a special alert. Or, tell Alexa to remind you that this date is the official first day of spring. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, on that exact date, you got up that morning to a beautiful sunrise with a chorus of angels singing “Hallelujah?” Birds are also singing, wild flowers are blooming, and trees are leafing out. Since this year the first day of spring is on a by larry whiteley The great outdoors. WISDOM SPRING IS COMING ISN’T IT? Sunday, you probably don’t have to go to work. But, since we’re day dreaming here anyway, let’s say your boss calls and tells you he knows how much you enjoy spring so take the week off with pay and go fishing. Did I hear the angels singing again? As I write this, I pause to look out my window at icicles hanging from bare tree limbs, the ground is white, the birds aren’t singing and neither are the angels. My fishing gear sits in the corner waiting and so am I. Spring is coming isn’t it? SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT “The first turkey that ever came to me on the ground did it a long time ago. I sat there with my hands shaking and my breath short and my heart hammering so hard I could not understand why he could not hear it. The last turkey that came to me last spring had exactly the same effect, and the day that this does not happen to me is the day that I quit.” TOM KELLY DON’T GIVE UP When you just can’t get bass to bite, try something totally different, something you would have normally never thought of using. Throw a huge crankbait, humongous worm, big spinnerbait, or go the other way and try throwing something smaller than you would ever throw. Present them in different ways too, and you might just be glad you didn’t give up.Next >