A Passion For Steelhead by Dec Hogan
Book Review
Dec Hogan: A Passion for Steelhead
It’s been thirty seven years since I first picked up a fly rod at the age of twelve. I’ve been thoroughly drawn to and enamored with the sport every day of my life since. Early on I experienced everything there was to be had from my outdoor experiences. Having been introduced to the outdoors at a very young age by my father, I, along with my brothers hunted and fished everywhere and for everything in my initial years. As I grew older and my life began taking shape, choices and the responsibilities inherent with those choices forced me to begin to narrow my activities in the outdoors as my free time became more limited.
I’ve guided and taught flyfishing for twenty four years, finding great pleasure in sharing with fly fishermen, new and experienced alike. I’ve held fast to my fly fishing desires and to the present day it is my principal outdoor activity, although my sons have grown and taken to waterfowling which of late has reduced my time on the water fishing.
Over the many years I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of fishing many venues in all types of waters with rod and fly. Fishing for steelhead has always been one of those destinations discussed from year to year, with the notion to actually put together a trip sometime in the near future.
Coming to Dec’s book, to be honest was initially done because I met Dec some two plus years ago and I’ve followed him from a distance through the last days of his preparation to publish. Having met Dec I was desirous to peruse his book and maybe find some interesting reading on the subject of Steelhead in the offing. As the pages flipped one by one I would soon find the journey much more meaningful than expected, and the investment of my very finite time resource an investment well spent.
If you’ve never made Dec’s acquaintance, McMillan’s forward will make you feel as though in one way or another you know the man. His intent of giving you a glimpse into the Steelhead master is done very well.
Bob notes Dec as one with “boundless enthusiasm” for anything he does, and this comes through very strongly in every chapter of the book. McMillan fishing together with Hogan one autumn notes, “Dec Hogan was a vision of a man in the mist of having been bitten by steelhead thrill. It busts out of him, hovering like an aura, radiating like the flame of the Holy Ghost over each of the 12 Apostles. I wanted to laugh with him, cry for him, and slap his back twice- once to congratulate him, and once to bring him to his senses not unlike the birthing of an infant held by the feet and still covered in his mother’s blood”.
I’ve always firmly believed and espoused that if one was to teach, regardless of the subject that person must be thoroughly excited about the subject matter, and as well be able to carry over that thrill and excitement to those being taught in order to be fully effective. Dec is no disappointment here as he is able to fully exhibit that thrill and excitement, and it transfers very well to the reader.
Adding guiding to the resume of a fly fishing instructor deepens his experience and understanding, and quickens the instructor; leaving him much better suited for the task at hand. Dec’s many years of guiding experience and wisdom lend great credibility to this book, giving more weight to its content. This truly is a book about passion for steelhead and Dec being one of the true masters of steelhead fly fishing, as well as one of the finest instructors in the sport is more than worthy to pen this book.
As noted earlier, having wanted for years to experience steelhead fishing, and with such a dream still on the list of venues yet to be realized I came to read this book being very much a novice.
The introduction entitled ‘ A Migratory Wonder ‘ by Thomas R. Pero is the perfect start whereby someone such as myself very new to, and no doubt uncomfortable with the sport of steelhead fishing could actually ‘be prepared’ if you will for a momentary total immersion into the world of a Steelhead’s life through reading. This jumpstart in the book gives the reader a foundation with which to move forward, into the subject of Steelhead fishing itself.
I’ve got many great literary books on fly fishing on my shelves and have always been intrigued by the methods in which the authors address their various subjects. The methodology they employ to bring the reader into their world, thereby making solid contact with not only the delivery of their message but moreover pulling the reader into the world they are in fact portraying. Pero’s introduction does this flawlessly, mattering little whether the reader is an experienced Steelhead junkie or simply taking those first steps in coming to know this wondrous fish.
Pero helps the reader in word and picture follow the adventures and grow up alongside a young Alevin he calls Mykiss. He deftly walks the reader through the moment to moment struggles of Mykiss in surviving in a bigger than life world for a very young steelhead. The photos in Pero’s introduction are vivid well placed snapshots into the world of young Mykiss, with all its natural wonders and inherent dangers. Such glimpses further enhance the reader’s ability to more deeply find himself immersed in the world of this young steelhead and follow along with each new day and experience. Once through the introduction the reader is now more fully versed on the life of a steelhead, and is in fact better prepared to, from that point be introduced to steelhead fishing by Mr. Hogan.
Dec takes the initial chapter to acquaint the reader with the writer. You come to know Dec on a more intimate level, reading of his life and outdoor adventures from early on, which gives you a starting point to understand Dec ‘The Steelhead Master’. This is a brief well done glimpse into the early life of a man giving life to and living his dream.
Dec quickly moves the reader on to the subject of flies, favorites both to him, fellow fishermen, and moreover steelhead themselves. The next thirty six pages give the reader one of the best thought out, and well composed insights into steelhead flies one could hope to come across.
There are many good, informative books out there available to the fly fishermen that somewhere along in the content provide details on flies relative to the subject. The manner in which flies are addressed in a good number of these presentations leads the reader to quickly gloss over much of the content as the way in which the information is presented is less than riveting, and more so quite textbook in its layout. To be blunt here many times such sections are simply presented in a boring manner.
Explanations are proffered as to how a steelhead perceives various fly patterns, and why they might be enticed to take a certain fly. Dec shares his admiration; a reverence shared no doubt by countless other fly fishermen, for the beauty of the flies used to entice this wondrous fish. Information is personalized for the reader with respect to fly selection, and he’s put at ease with details shared as to actually how many flies there are out there that truly are successful patterns. Emphasis is given to the reader on presentation, and moreover establishing confidence in flies fished on certain waters, during certain times of the year.
The main theme of steelhead flies continues on with good content, while a parallel theme on flies moves along in stride. Each page shares a high quality larger than life photo of the fly noted, accompanied by a material breakout, with small tying notes. Dec has included as well with each pattern, an inset personalized note to the reader sharing further insight into the individual fly noted. This again is one of the most well thought out and easy to follow, while remaining fully engaged formats I’ve found in my years of reading.
The pace of the book changes dramatically as the reader is introduced to casting a Two-Handed rod. There is a sudden awareness of the practice and investment of time that will be required to come to grips with casting and the many facets of wielding a two handed rod. Having been a flyrodder for thirty seven years I was able to easily see some subtle similarities in the two schools, namely the critical need for a good sense of rhythm and timing.
Unselfishly noting himself as a Pacific Pioneer of the present day two-handed rod, Hogan walks the reader through his introduction and birthing into what has now become the rule rather than the exception in Steelhead casting tackle. Dec’s personable style leads the reader through his learning experience, while adding valuable personal insight along the way. He takes great pains to caution the reader to slow down when it comes to two-handed casting and this would be advice well taken when it comes to reading this casting section as well. It’s glaringly obvious that as with any sport there must be a commitment of time and effort, in order to acquaint oneself and to come to any level of mastery with a two-handed rod.
As with any fly fishing book in which casting is an integral part the literary detail, informational visual aids help to provide more insight and clarity to the subject. The author has a good DVD available that not only helps better acquaint you with Dec, but furthermore brings together the casting detail covered in the book with a visual detail that gives the reader better enlightenment on Spey casting. Rio also has a very good DVD set entitled
Dec moves along in the following chapter discussion fly presentation, which is as Dec puts it ‘where it all comes together’. Most books cover casting and presentation techniques but fail to stress the importance of coupling good position with proper casting and presentation. Dec takes care to ensure his instruction in this regard is complete. Hogan goes into great detail on the various presentations needed as the fishermen encounters different river structures such as bars, fishing over, around and through structure such as river depressions and boulders. This segment is personalized as the author weaves details of some of his favorite and most well known runs on some of his most beloved waters, giving the reader detailed instructions on swinging the fly and calculated presentations in various situations. Greg Pearson’s illustrations seal the deal on this chapter helping the reader better visualize the instructions given from the author’s perspective.
Dec provides some good detail on what to do when your fly is actually taken, clarifying the different takes of the fly that the Steelhead fisherman will encounter on the river, and better still how to react to each of those situations. Key elements to playing a Steelhead once hooked are detailed for the reader as well.
Some pages are helpfully dedicated covering rods, reels and lines and the critical knots utilized in pursuing Steelhead with a two-handed rod. The reader should find this very helpful.
Since there are literally four seasons in which a Steelhead can be pursued Dec dedicates a well thought out chapter covering the seasonal year. The author gives some good insight into the fish and their inclinations with each season, and specifically how they react to flies and presentations. This chapter is done very well, almost leaving the reader feeling the warm summer sun on his back, the nip of a fall morning, and the stark cold solitude of standing in dark winter water waiting for that subtle tug.
Dec includes a chapter he calls ‘Asked and Answered’ patterned after Jock Scott’s book “Greased Line Fishing for Salmon”. Continuing his style throughout the book of a wholehearted effort to personalize the information for the reader Dec is nails in this chapter. Not having Dec here in my living room, the next best thing was an interface provided between Hogan and some of his fellow Steelhead fishermen asking questions I’m sure to formulate and want to ask myself as I venture into this new arena.
As the book comes to a close Dec takes a chapter to talk about his beloved Skagit River, helping the reader to not only come to know the water, but come to know specifically why Dec Hogan lovingly calls the Skagit his ‘perfect river’.
A detailed accounting is given in the afterword, written by Peter W. Soverel with a look to the future of Steelhead fishing. This is a chillingly poignant end to this book, a life true historical account of the past twenty five years with respect to the Steelhead and its waters. I winced reading this afterword, yet it needed to be said, it needs to be echoed repeatedly. I quote Soverel here to give you some flavor of the final pages. “I suspect that many steelhead fly fishers today neither appreciate the technological advances in equipment that have made fly fishing so effective, nor the alarming rate at which the fish are disappearing. Those new to our sport mistakenly take the present to be the norm, failing to recognize that the present, in reality, is but a pathetic echo of what was and what should be. We are fast becoming a generation of anglers perversely accustomed to rivers without Steelhead”.
Soverel’s accounting and outlook for the future is gloomy and rightfully so, given man’s track history with this wondrous fish and its habitat. Rivers that once held good populations of returning fish from year to year have now, to use Soverel’s words collapsed and many are fishless. Changes in river structure and flows, resource mismanagement, and commercial fishing abuse and negligence bear the full responsibility for this decline.
Soverel stops short of stating all is totally lost with the future of the Steelhead, noting that the “fish themselves offer hope of balancing the negatives”. Steelhead are a hardy, resilient fish, that are both adaptable and prolific occupying the most diverse habitat of all the Pacific Salmonids. We are better at understanding Steelhead and their needs, much more so than in years past. Much of their current habitat is on public lands, given voice to Steelhead anglers to speak out and make a difference in changing land-use management policies and procedures that are more ‘fish friendly’.
Reading this book has kindled an excitement in me to move beyond my traditional thirty seven years of fly fishing and incorporate a new adventure. I’m closer now than ever to finally realizing an actual Steelhead fishing excursion. Though I have to be honest that reading this book has left me with a much deeper understanding and appreciation for Steelhead while leaving me with a sense of having arrived at this sport much too late. It would appear that I’ve missed the ‘glory days’ of this storied fish and its history, I’ve missed those wonderful opportunities to fish the many waters that are now nothing more than mere shadows of their former selves.
There is hope and the future for this beautiful, magnificent fish still holds possibilities of strong returns in many areas. This road is not and will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination. Basic management paradigms must be changed; ways of thinking and viewing the issue must change as well. As Soverel puts it, “it means rescuing what’s left of wild runs and unbroken rivers. It will involve a colossal fight. Are we up for it?”
This is a great book that celebrates the life of a wondrous wild fish, as well as the passion stirred within of the angler fortunate to ply its waters. Only the voices and actions of the many that cherish the Steelhead and the rich experiences such a relationship brings will ensure its future. I’m happy to add my voice and support to such a group.
I’m very particular about the books that occupy a space on my shelf. There are many good works, well written and presented that I enjoy referring to again and again. Those quiet winter mornings when all is still, a warm fire and a good read help to ease the tensions of a hectic life and the longing of way too many days since my last stand at the waters edge. Dec’s completed a great work here, the literary content, the photographs, the sketches, and the personal touches validate all his efforts.
Thanks for the read! If you’d like to pick up a copy of “A Passion For Steelhead” you can find it here.
Rick L. Peterson
Fly Fishing Instructor and Guide