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Chris Kolbert

Kayaking the Mississippi’s backwaters for pike and a little peace and quiet

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing /

The sun beat down on me as I paddled my kayak along a shallow backwater slough adjacent to the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota. I didn’t check the temperature that morning. It was the kind of hot that made me question my intelligence for tackling a solo fishing trip for northern pike.
The black fiberglass handle of my kayak paddle became so hot that I began dunking it in the water to cool it down.

Kayaking the Mississippi’s backwaters for pike and a little peace and quiet Read More »

What farmers taught me about growing better wildlife food plots

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

The drone of my subcompact tractor echoed up and down the river valley as I dropped my rotary tiller to the ground and began to cultivate the wildlife food plot that has been a labor of love for the past 10 years.
After maintaining an acre of clover for a couple summers, I was preparing to plant sorghum and a pea/soybean mix on a half-acre to create habitat for whitetail deer and upland birds. My property is small by most standards, consisting of a field and a few acres of woods.

What farmers taught me about growing better wildlife food plots Read More »

River rapids, white bass, and a fish I couldn’t stop while fishing Minnesota’s Driftless Region

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing /

The jerkbait had almost returned to the rocky limestone shoreline after my first cast of the evening when the line stopped short. My rod tip began to lurch like a wild bronco was attached to the other end.
I leaned back sharply to set the hooks, just in time to see a hefty smallmouth bass leap out of the surging rapids and then disappear below the surface of the water.

River rapids, white bass, and a fish I couldn’t stop while fishing Minnesota’s Driftless Region Read More »

Creative tactics fill a 2026 Iowa turkey tag

Featured, Features, Hunting, Hunting, Iowa, Minnesota /

Two pale white heads appeared on the hillside not 20 yards below us, barely rising above the gooseberry bushes that choked the forest floor.
My hunting partner, fellow southeast Minnesota resident Jim Vagts, sat against a tree 10 feet away from me, trying to get a shot as the gobblers ducked and weaved through the brush while looking for the “sultry hen” that was calling them. We were both hoping to fill our Iowa turkey tags that morning, and it seemed like these two longbeards were willing to oblige.

Creative tactics fill a 2026 Iowa turkey tag Read More »

Spring combat fishing on Minnesota waters of the Mississippi River

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing /

It was well after 8 a.m. when my buddy Eric and I launched my boat below a lock and dam on the Mississippi River and motored across the channel to target pre-spawn walleyes and saugers.
I usually fish the big river several times a year, but it’d been a long time since I’d fished the pre-spawn. I was excited for a successful trip.

Spring combat fishing on Minnesota waters of the Mississippi River Read More »

Iowa’s driftless region a great place to cast a fly in late winter

Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Iowa, Minnesota, National Fishing /

My strike indicator had just landed at the head of a deep riffle when it jerked suddenly. I set the hook and saw the flash of a trout belly under the clear water as my little 3-weight fly rod bent deeply.
The fish raced into the fast water, heading downstream. I kept my rod tip high as rapid head shakes radiated up the fly rod to my arm. Eventually it slowed, and I guided the 12-inch Iowa brown trout into my son Jason’s waiting net.

Iowa’s driftless region a great place to cast a fly in late winter Read More »

Dead-of-winter archery practice is good for the mind and body

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Iowa, Minnesota, National Hunting /

When my first arrow of the morning center-punched the bull’s-eye, I smiled then quickly took a picture and sent it to my son, Jason. The text wasn’t meant to gloat – rather, I was surprised that I was able to shoot so well. I jokingly told him that I considered stopping while I was ahead.
You see, in the past year, I’ve only shot my 20-year-old Hoyt bow a handful of times, and it felt good to once again be at full draw.

Dead-of-winter archery practice is good for the mind and body Read More »

Cabin fever got you down? February in Minnesota is for squirrel, rabbit hunting

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

Snow crunched under my boots as my son Jason and I hiked across a plowed field toward a wooded valley in southeast Minnesota. Recent subzero temperatures had crusted over the top of the snow, making the walk relatively easy.
The day was somewhat balmy by comparison. A brilliant afternoon sun bore down on us and the thermometer on my truck showed a temperate 3 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cabin fever got you down? February in Minnesota is for squirrel, rabbit hunting Read More »

All it takes is one rooster for an inspired old dog

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Iowa, Minnesota /

When the old rooster flushed from dense brush along the edge of an Iowa public grassland, my brother Dave quickly shouldered his 16 gauge and fired.
From where I stood, it looked like a clean miss as the bird continued flying and settled into a large patch of big bluestem a couple hundred yards away. Dave’s field-bred English cocker, Boz, had worked hard to flush that bird.

All it takes is one rooster for an inspired old dog Read More »

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