Tyer's Table with Chase Tokunaga

Chase Tokunaga returns to the Tyer's Table this Saturday to share his take on Rodrick Haig-Brown's Steelhead Bee. While a Campbell River favorite of Rodricks, the Steelhead Bee has found a cult following among NW Steelhead dry-liners, and Chase's version pays tribute to the original.

Intended to be fished on a dead drift, the fly that became known as the "Steelhead Bee" was described in Haig-Brown's Fishermen's Summer as "a new fly pattern - a variation of the Mackenzie River Brown and Yellow Bug, tyed Wulff fashion with fox squirrel wings and tail."  I had picked up a first edition copy of the book at a small shop in Nanaimo, BC, on the way to Campbell River. The story of Rodrick's first use of the "Bee" is an almost unbelievable account of fresh fish and a tackle selection that tipped the scales in favor of the fish. Reading it inspired me to pick up a few flies at the local shop and head up the Campbell River.

Today, the Steelhead Bee is mostly presented on the swing for Steelhead, greased to skate across the surface. Yet, those many years ago, I found myself upstream of Haig-Brown's riverside home, fishing a Steelhead Bee for Cutthroat as he had intended on that fateful day. I never had a fresh Steelhead rise to the fly, but I did find a few fat Searun Cutthroat that crushed it on the dead drift, making for fond memories of a wonderful place and time.

Join us this Saturday, April 26th, at 10:30 as Chase Tokunaga shares his version of Haig-Brown's Steelhead Bee.

About Chase...

"I was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii. After high school, I moved up to the mainland to pursue an education and play college baseball. I became interested in fly fishing when I saw a friend do it and thought that was cool and interesting. With COVID shutting the world down, I thought it was the perfect time to dive into fly fishing. The first-ever rod was purchased from Royal Treatment under the guidance of Josh Linn. I started fishing heavily for trout, then was encouraged to look into steelhead, and have not looked back. I love tying steelhead flies and swinging for them. I've really liked tying traditional hair wings, spey flies, and skating flies. Randy Stetzer has influenced me with his love of dry lines and muddlers. Also, being from Hawaii, I am obsessed with fishing for Bonefish whenever possible."