John Weiss

John Weiss

John Weiss was a full-time reporter for the Rochester Post-Bulletin for 41 years and wrote the Back Roads column for more than 10 years. His passions include hunting, fishing, birding, nature photography, hiking and just kicking around.

Author's Archive

People float down the Root River in tubes while heavy equipment works along the riverbank in the background, where trees and brush have been cleared for a habitat improvement project on a sunny summer day.

Root River Project in Lanesboro Draws Praise and Criticism

Residents and visitors in Lanesboro are reacting to a $400,000 Root River restoration project that includes tree removal, improved fish habitat, floodplain restoration and expanded river access.

A woman practices archery in a wooded outdoor range, drawing a compound bow and aiming an arrow toward a target. Sunlight filters through tall pine trees as she concentrates on her shot.

Building the Future of Hunting, Shooting Sports and Conservation

Taniya Bethke of Chatfield is helping reshape the future of hunting, shooting sports and wildlife conservation through mentorship, education and innovative outreach nationwide. 

A close-up, highly detailed image of a fuzzy black-and-yellow bumblebee collecting nectar from the center of a bright purple flower. The bee’s body is covered in fine hairs and dusted with pollen, especially around its legs and underside. The flower has long, thin purple petals radiating outward from a dense yellow center. The background is softly blurred green, making the bee and flower stand out sharply in focus.

Saying No to Neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoid pesticides are under scrutiny in southeastern Minnesota as concerns grow over their impact on pollinators, water quality and human health.

An older man with dark rimmed glasses and dark ball cap intently focuses on tying a trout fly under a bright light and magnifying glass. Another man on the right is speaking and showing him how to do the task.

Fly Tying Workshop Finishes Up its Fifth Year

Fly tying, fish tales and community come together at regular social gatherings in Lanesboro.

A wide stretch of river covered in drifted snow. Banks are lined with bare trees.

Root River Watershed Sees Gains, Sets Priorities for Next Decade

Water quality in Minnesota’s Root River Watershed has improved over the past decade as officials plan the next 10 years of groundwater and soil protection.

Three older women smile at the camera while wearing festive Christmas hats and scarves inside a museum-like space, with vintage displays and a large carved figure visible behind them.

Cold Weather Can’t Stop Christmas Cheer at Peterson’s Beloved Holiday Festival

Hardy community members won’t let a cold snap keep them from celebrating Christmas in Peterson! John Weiss reports on this local holiday tradition of Norwegian treats, Santa visits and music that continues to bring the community together.

Six Canada geese glide across a calm river lined with autumn trees, their orange and gold foliage mirrored in the still water.

Essay | Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall, Water Calls to Us

A reflective essay by John Weiss exploring our deep connection to water in all its beauty, its warnings and the vital role it plays in our landscape and lives.

A musician wearing glasses and a plaid shirt plays an acoustic guitar on stage inside a warm, wood-paneled venue. He faces an audience of older adults seated at small tables, listening closely under soft string lights.

Celebrating Creativity!

A photo gallery of Root River Current’s recent celebration of regional arts and artists featured in stories published in 2025.

A close-up of an old arched window framed in peeling white paint above a weathered wooden door. Bare tree branches partly obscure the view, and sunlight highlights the cracked glass and faded blue-gray siding.

Essay | Haunted by Time: Southeastern Minnesota’s Forgotten Schoolhouses and Farmsteads

John Weiss explores Fillmore County’s time-haunted schoolhouses and farmsteads where fading paint and sagging walls still teach lessons.

A man in waders stands knee deep in flowing river water just below a short dam. He is casting out a long line from his fishing pole and holding the line in one hand.

Proposed Lanesboro Riverfront Project Adds Access, Fishing and Trails

John Weiss learns more about a proposed project to upgrade the portion of the Root River that winds through Lanesboro.

A woman with blonde-brown hair in a loose bun wearing a black sweat set, blue skirt, and white cotton gloves gestures toward an ornately carved 8 foot tall wooden clock.

Bily Brothers Clocks: “They Truly Loved It.”

John Weiss discovers an incredible collection of large scale wooden carved clocks at the unique Bily Clocks Museum in Spillville, Iowa.

A man wearing a gray tshirt with a large cloth glove on holds a tube sandwiches in a form. His other hand (out of the image) is pushing down on a plunger attached to the tube.

Liquid Willowcat Revolutionizes Walleye Fishing

John Weiss reports on a unique business venture that combines scent, color and a love for fishing.

Follow us

Supported by...