☕️ Good Morning. While the Winter Olympics wind down with athletes pushing the outer edges of focus and discipline, and a rare planetary alignment lights up the night sky for anyone willing to step outside and look up (more on that later), we’re dropping something a little more grounded today. Our Steve Harvey cover story is now live on the site — an unfiltered look at a man who’s done the big stages and loud moments, and still finds his reset on the water with a rod in hand. No spectacle required. Just perspective, patience, and the kind of clarity you only get when you slow down long enough to notice it.
— the Hook & Barrel Family
👍🏼 Are you a Steve Harvey fan or just interested in elevating your reading? Do yourself a favor and buy the single issue - think of it as a trial. We’ll let the magazine do the convincing. We are sure we will see your name on the subscriber list next month…
For readers running on espresso and limited patience:
» COVER STORY: Steve Harvey, Off Script
» GEAR: The Springtime Edit
» BADASS WOMEN: A Femme Fatale
» FIELD TEST: Wear What Works
» COOL KID CLUB: Buy a Damn Hat
👉🏼 Pass this along. Then step away from the blue light and upgrade yourself to paper, ink, and something worth keeping on a coffee table.
👇🏼 Keep scrolling, there is more, and there is a new section to our emails at the very bottom; we think you will enjoy it.
🪐 More on this whole planet deal from earlier: If you needed an excuse to step outside and look up this week, here it is. A rare planetary alignment is setting up across the night sky, with multiple planets visible in a loose line just after sunset through the early evening. All you need is a clear horizon, a few quiet minutes, and a reminder that some of the best moments still happen when you slow down and pay attention. The kind of perspective that makes the noise feel smaller and the good stuff easier to spot.
👾 Now, here’s the latest from hookandbarrel.com:
COVER STORY
Before the suits, the stages, and the spotlight, Steve Harvey was fishing to eat. Not for fun. Not for sport. Survival. This cover story traces the unlikely thread between a man who once cooked bass at rest stops and the mentor who now uses fishing to shape young lives and futures. It’s not a celebrity profile. It’s a story about patience, humility, and why the outdoors still has the power to level everything that comes with success.
GEAR
This is where restraint goes out the window. From next-gen fish finders and kayak tech to turkey guns, choke tubes, and gear that earns its place in the truck, this roundup is a straight look at what’s actually worth buying for 2026.
BADASS WOMEN
Jess Mauro didn’t find shooting sports for trophies or attention — she found them when she needed something steady. What started as curiosity during lockdown turned into discipline, purpose, and a fast rise to Team Beretta’s pro roster. She embodies precision on the range and confidence everywhere else.
FIELD TEST
Most apparel reviews read like spec sheets. This one doesn’t. The Kifaru Apparel System earned its place not by buzzwords, but by performing where it matters — long days in the field, unpredictable weather, and on hunts that outlast your attention. This isn’t about looking tactical. It’s about clothing that works harder than you do and still feels right when you kick back at camp.
🏆 The Trophy Room
🗓️ UP NEXT: This Thursday, dial it in for our weekly INSIDER email, full of the latest guns and gear from the industry’s top manufacturers.
» One final note: If you’re impressed by this newsletter, you should see what we print.
POST SCRIPT
Before we let you go, let’s talk headwear. The Major League MidPro Snapback Cap isn’t a logo thrown on a trucker hat — it’s structured, durable, and built to hold up when the sun’s high and the grind’s real. Not to mention this murdered-out all-black cap just looks damn cool. Wear it at the range, to the bar, or tossing axes after hours.
