The Great Outdoors, indoors

I'm not sure Shamrock Productions could have timed it better. The Duluth Boat, Sports, Travel & RV Show rolls into Duluth Entertainment Convention Center February 13-17. This past weekend I was excited to hit some local lakes and chase crappies. The snow, cold and lack of plowed roads left me with few options. Lake after lake was virtually inaccessible without a snowmobile. I longed for open water and to be back in my 20-foot Lund Alaskan, enjoying the warmth of the sun and long days of summer.

Then, like a beacon in the night, I caught wind it was "boat show" season. The official title may be longer, but since I was a kid, I've attended the "boat show" in Duluth.

As a child my sole focus was the trout pond. I would wait impatiently in line for the buzzer to signal the previous group's time was up. Most kids just shifted back and forth in place. I, on the other hand, constantly gathered information to help me coax one of those big rainbows to bite. Who was catching fish? What type of fly did they have? Were they imparting a certain action on it? As soon as the buzzer sounded, I would race around the pond and grab the most productive setup. I can still see those rainbows circling the trout pond and feel the anticipation one would slurp my fly as it passed. As soon as my time was up, back in line I got, waiting and watching for the next round.

I can feel that childlike excitement building again. The "boat show" is held in conjunction with the Northland Outdoors Duluth Deer Classic. Between the two shows there is plenty to see and do. The DECC will be packed with boats, RVs, outfitters and resorts: an endless array of products and services available to check out. The activities scheduled this year look fantastic. The Extreme Raptor Show looks especially cool. The show features owls, hawks, falcons and a famous bald eagle named Uncle Sam. There are also more than 50 seminars over the course of five days. I'm most excited to catch one of Grant Sorenson's presentations on open water lake trout fishing on Lake Superior. Grant straight up knows his stuff. Additionally, there is a predator and prey exhibit and a Pheasants Forever youth village that will keep my kids entertained. And, of course, the trout in the pond are not safe from the next generation of Bakers.

One of the most anticipated additions to this year's show is the opportunity to meet Time Bandit Captain Johnathan Hillstrand. Hillstrand has been a staple of the Discovery Channel's hit show "Deadliest Catch" for most of its run, and he is wildly popular with his fans. His career spans 38 years. This winter he has taken the crabbing season off, allowing him to visit Duluth.

I got the chance to talk with Captain Hillstrand the day he arrived in the Northland.

Q: Have you been to this part of Minnesota before?

Hillstrand: I've been through the Duluth airport several times over the years, but this is my first chance to explore the area. It's beautiful here. The lake, the hill. I would love to come back during summer.

Q: Anything in particular you're excited to explore?

Hillstrand: I'm excited just to drive around taking in the scenery. The wife and I will be checking out the Aquarium for sure. That looks pretty cool.

Q: Where do you call home?

Hillstrand: For years, a good part of the year the Time Bandit was my home. I would consider Homer, Alaska to be my homebase during that time. My Lower 48 home is in Washington state, close to the grandkids.

Q: As far as your career on the Time Bandit, what are you the proudest of?

Hillstrand: I worked the crab grounds from the time I was 17 until I turned 55. In 38 years I never once had to call a mother and tell her that her son died on my watch. We've lost parts of toes and fingers, but never a life.

Q: What has changed the most over those 38 years on the water?

Hillstrand: A couple of things. It used to cost me a single $50 permit to crab. Now there are taxes and fees that eat up 27 percent of my profit before I even leave the dock. I also have a harder time finding greenhorns that can handle the work without lipping off. Used to be just put your nose down and get after it. I think the faster the better kids figure out life's not fair, you work hard, harder than everyone, and anything is possible.

Q: Looking back, you made a fateful decision years ago to allow cameras on the Time Bandit. Have you ever regretted that decision?

Hillstrand: First off, I said no. It was my brother Andy who said yes and eventually talked me into it. I have never regretted it. I just think having chunks of my life on film is a great gift to my grandkids. Long after I'm gone they will be able to watch the show and get a sense of who I was. I would love to sit down and watch some of my grandpa's life, to hear his voice, to see his joy.

Q: Is there a big difference between how you're portrayed on the show, and who you really are?

Hillstrand: They have so much film on me, it would be impossible to put on an act for that amount of time. What you see, is what you get. I would love to see a politician with a camera in their face 24/7. That would be some funny stuff.

Q: Any celebrities you've had the chance to meet you've been particularly excited about?

Hillstrand: There was Twiggy, the water skiing squirrel ... I'm not sure if he was more excited, or I. Let's see, Tony Stewart, Kid Rock is a great guy, Snoop Dogg a couple of times. I've gotten the chance to meet a lot of cool people. Most of them fans of the show. I still get caught off guard people see me as a celebrity. In airports, folks are like 'Hey, you're that guy,' I'm like 'Yep, I'm that guy that can't find my luggage.'"

Q: People seem so excited to get a chance to meet you face to face. Why do you think that is?

Hillstrand: I think people see me as a regular, hard-working guy. People are great. Kids are great. They feel a connection from watching me over the years. I'm excited to meet everyone that comes to the Duluth show.

Captain Hillstrand will be available for meet-and-greet Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Also, on Saturday he will be at the show from noon to 3 p.m. and then again 4-6 p.m. He will be available to take photos with his fans. He will also have T-shirts and his children's books he's written for sale.

The show continues its run Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. More information on can be found at minnesotasportshow.com.

I'm thinking a couple of days of enjoying the great outdoors indoors sounds like a perfectly timed respite.