Don Haaheim has combined his lifelong passions for fishing, the outdoors, and writing into a remarkable late-in-life publishing career. Earlier this summer, he completed his fifth book鈥攁n impressive feat, especially as he prepares to celebrate his 88th birthday next week.
The 乌鸦传媒 outdoorsman is the proud author of 50 Excellent Flies for BC Waters: Trying to Help and Directions to Good Locations, a guide that features 50 of his most successful fly patterns for trout, salmon, and steelhead. The book also includes directions to some of Haaheim乌鸦传媒 favourite fishing spots across British Columbia. It was published in early June.
鈥淚t all started years ago when I was a kid,鈥 Haaheim said in a recent phone interview from his home in 乌鸦传媒. 鈥淚 grew up on a 40-acre farm in South Langley, and a body of water called Little Campbell Creek ran through our property. So I got to fish from a very young age. My dad was a dedicated outdoorsman and always took me along hunting or fishing.鈥
One of the feeder streams into Little Campbell Creek used to teem with spawning Coho salmon, but it eventually dried up due to nearby clear-cut logging. That loss struck a chord with Haaheim and inspired his first book.
鈥淭hat bothered me, so I finally decided to write a book detailing that experience,鈥 he said.
His debut, Willow Sticks, Earth Worms, was published in the summer of 2005 and sold well, encouraging him to continue writing. Since then, he has published several more books, including:
Jessie, A Yellow Labrador Retriever: A True Life Story With Easy Training Tips (2017) -- a heartfelt tribute to his beloved hunting dog and family pet.
Fly Tying: Proven Flies for the Pacific Northwest (2024) -- a practical guide covering essential fly-tying equipment, materials, and patterns for wet and dry flies, as well as flies for steelhead and salmon.
Outdoor Poems With Love (2024) -- a collection of poems inspired by a lifetime spent hiking, fishing, hunting, skiing, golfing, and enjoying nature.
Haaheim乌鸦传媒 passion for writing stretches back nearly 30 years. In 1996, he created his own website and began posting what would now be considered monthly blog posts on fly fishing.
鈥淚 wrote a fly-tying article every month鈥擨 had a lot of experience and knew how to tie flies well,鈥 he said.
Over the years, he contributed close to 350 articles to his own and other outdoors-focused websites, covering everything from tying techniques to fishing stories.
鈥淲ith this latest book, I realized I had so many good flies that weren鈥檛 in the first one,鈥 he explained. 鈥淪o I decided to write about my 50 best flies and include my secret fishing locations across the province. I share real-life experiences from those trips and show anglers where they can find these hidden gems.鈥
Both his poetry book and latest fly guide were completed in less than six months and published through Kindle Direct Publishing.
鈥淚f you meet their strict requirements, they publish it right away, and it乌鸦传媒 available on Amazon,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t乌鸦传媒 also more affordable than going through traditional publishers.鈥
Professionally, Haaheim worked as an electrical engineer and lived in Vancouver, Kamloops, and Prince George before settling in 乌鸦传媒 in 1986, where he乌鸦传媒 lived ever since.
鈥淓ven during my working years, I went fishing whenever I could,鈥 he said.
Although 乌鸦传媒 isn鈥檛 widely known for exceptional fishing, Haaheim insists there are hidden gems nearby.
鈥淚 have several secret places near Winfield,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here are excellent lakes鈥擠oreen Lake, Lost Lake, Eileen Lake鈥攕everal that offer great fishing.鈥
Of all his works, the book about his Labrador retriever, Jessie, holds a special place in his heart.
鈥淚 spent 12 years hunting birds, pheasants, and ducks in Alberta in the fall, and Jessie learned to point birds on her own. That book is based on all the incredible things she could do. She was an amazing dog. I still miss her.鈥
His poetry collection, though rooted in outdoor themes, also touches on personal memories鈥攍ike how his father built their family farm in Langley with nothing but a small saw, a hammer, nails, and a horse.
As he turns 88, Haaheim says he may be 鈥渏ust about out of things I know really well,鈥 but doesn鈥檛 rule out writing another book. With retirement offering him plenty of free time, he remains open to the possibility.
鈥淚 hope all five of my books appeal to anyone interested in the outdoors,鈥 he said.
Haaheim dedicated all his books to his late wife, Delores Marie Campbell, to whom he was married for 55 years.
鈥淪he was a great lady from Cape Breton Island,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hat I want to do now is take the royalties and set up a scholarship fund in her name. There are some hurdles to doing that in Canada, so I鈥檒l be seeing a lawyer. It may cost me some money, but that乌鸦传媒 what I want to do. I don鈥檛 want the money for myself. I want to pay tribute to her through this foundation.鈥
All five of Don Haaheim’s books are available at by searching his name.