About eight years ago, the title of a book came to John Highlen, “Chasing Traver’s Magic.” Having read both “Trout Madness” and “Trout Magic”, books by illustrious Yooper, fly fisherman, and Michigan Supreme Court Justice John Voelker, John determined to write about his own adventures fly fishing. “John Voelker’s pen name was Robert Traver,” says John, and that’s where the title of the book came from.
A life-long fisherman, John started fly fishing about fifteen years ago. “I wasn’t ready to write a book then,” says John. He spent years slowly gathering stories, until he was ready to put the book together.
John had multiple magazine articles published in the early 2000s, but did not begin writing full-time until he and his wife, artist Julie Highlen, moved to the U.P. in 2016. His first book was “Touching the Wild U.P.” in 2021, followed by “Porkies Wilderness Wanderings” in 2022. His second book was written following a Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park artist-in-residence program. “My wife applied first, and we spent two weeks there that winter.”They had such a positive experience, John applied for and was awarded his own artist-in-residence in the Porkies that fall.
Another artist-in-residence program John was privileged to participate in was from the Listening Point Foundation in Minnesota. He and Julie were able to live in the home of writer and environmentalist Sigurd F. Olson for four days. “I imagined I would be writing like Sigurd Olson,” says John. “Sitting at his desk, looking over Listening Point. Instead, I couldn’t write squat while I was there.”Julie jokes she was able to paint while John struggled, but John was able to jot down notes that later became the foundation for some of his writing.
John describes his writing as “painting with a pen.” He wants those who read his books to get a true feel for the experiences he writes about. He plans to continue to write more nonfiction outdoor adventure books. He is collecting more stories about fly fishing, and has some ideas for a series of children’s books.
John’s love for fly fishing extends beyond reading the river and perfecting casting technique. Until last month he was president of the local Fred Waara Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He remains on the board, and is now focused on conservation projects for that organization.
John is also on the board of the Alger County Conservation District, as well as the president and founder of Friends of Tyoga, a nonprofit that works with the Michigan DNR and Onota Township to preserve the historical Tyoga logging camp settlement of 1905-1907. “We have a mile and a half of trail we maintain, as well as a campground,” says John.
“Chasing Traver’s Magic”, along with John’s other books, are available locally at Falling Rock Café in Munising and Snowbound Books in Marquette. They also will be available at the Munising Farmer’s Market this summer, a good fit with wife Julie’s art, as she painted the covers. John’s books are also available at online retailers.
