Cephalopod

Cephalopods.

by Kuba Chruszczewski

              The numerous family of steelhead in our freshwaters is represented by two species - the pintail and the whitetail.In marine waters there are three more species of this family, but we will not deal with them for the moment. For a fly fisherman fishing in our rivers, these two freshwater steelhead are important - they live in waters commonly referred to as trout waters. The whitetiphead (Cottus gobio) is found in mountainous and foothill areas, and in the north in moraine areas, in fairly rapid streams. The pike-finned steelhead (Cottus poecilopus) can be found in the Carpathian and Sudeten ranges, and in the northern part of the country in Lake Hancza in Suwalszczyzna, and in the Wel River, a tributary of the Drwęca River. The whitetiphead resides in the land of trout, grayling and barbel. It has a fairly wide thermal tolerance, tolerating temperatures as low as 24°C well. The steelhead, on the other hand, occupies the higher sections included in the land of trout, as it tolerates temperatures no higher than 17°C.

       Distinguishing between the cephalopods „by eye” is not easy. Their coloration is quite similar, and varies depending on the conditions at the location. Body shape basically identical. The most distinctive feature is the large, flattened head (hence the name) with the arched eyes located on top of it . This broad head with a relatively large mouth and spread wide pectoral fins give the fish seen „en face” a menacing appearance, very distinctive and allowing it to be easily distinguished from others that may be found with it in the same body of water. And it's not easy to see a steelhead. During the day it stays hidden, usually under a large stone (interestingly enough, it very often assumes an „upside down” position there, sticking to the underside of the stone), becoming active only at dusk. In addition, both the steelhead are becoming increasingly rare species. They are peculiar indicators of water quality - they are disappearing from polluted and overheating waters as a result of the activities of pseudo-reclamationists and numerous „regulators” who ruin our rivers by straightening them, shallowing them and cutting down trees on the banks.

      But all the time - where they are still present - steelhead are an important component of the diet of predatory fish, and numerous ways of imitating these interesting fish are known. The most characteristic element of these imitations is the large, flattened head. One of the more well-known flies that imitates the steelhead well is the classic Muddler Minnow with its large head made of deer hair. (Photo 1.)

Large heads made of winter deer hair, or other natural and synthetic materials can be stocked with zonkers, mats, or bristle flies. Such flies, with a distinctive wedge-shaped silhouette , in a wide range of browns, grays or olives, will be good baits anywhere where the headfish are present in sufficient numbers. But not only ... The experience of many anglers indicates that such a fat, concrete morsel can be attractive to the predator also in waters where the headfish do not occur.

 That's why I encourage you to perform headfish imitations. Used in the streamer method, guided slowly with short jumps near the bottom, they can bring unexpected results.

  Here are some of my favorite tried-and-true designs, and one, in the recently popular articulated style, step by step.

Photo 2.

Matuka-style cephalopod.

Tail and back - grizzly hen dyed olive green.

Thorax - light grey dubbing, line scroll

Blackberries - two grizzly and one olive

Flash and bead eyes

Photo 3.

Zonker Head I.

Tail and back - strip of rabbit skin with fur, olive-colored

Thorax - ash dubbing

Scroll - silver wire

Fins - neck feathers of the dark ash hen

Head - winter hair of the deer

Photo 4.

Zonker Head II.

Tail and back - strip of rabbit skin with fur, dark ash-colored

 Tail fin - a section of skin with fur glued on the underside

Thorax - ash dubbing

Pectoral fins - neck feathers of the golden pheasant

Head - winter coat of deer different colors, glued 3D eyes

Photo.5.

Reverse zonker header

Tail - strip of skin with rabbit hair

Light olive rabbit fur collar

Head - dubbed from the undercoat of an Afghan goat, glued 3D eyes

Photo 6.

This is how they look en face

Articulated header step by step:

Photo 7.

In a vice „articulated shank” - a shank of 1.00 mm wire. To it I mount a loop of thin steel braid, tie eyelets, load with coils of lead wire. (I described these operations in detail in WW XI. 2012 and II. 2013)

Photo 8.

I tie „in reverse” two bunches of artificial hair from the top and bottom of the shaft.

Photo 9.

I bend the hair back, add some flashabou or other shiny accessory. The tied hair should reach more or less to the end of the braided loop.

 Photos 10., 11.

I attach successive, shorter and shorter bundles of synthetic bristles, up to the point where the eyelets are attached.

Photo 12.

In the split leading thread I place the dubbing, twist.

Photo 13.

I make the head of the fly by winding the dubbing in front of, between and behind the eyes. I comb the dubbing to the sides to obtain the characteristic shape.

Photo 14.

Hook mounted on a loop of braided line. The header is ready.

Photo 15.

This is how it looks wet, from the front.