Cowen's Somethin' Else - Fly Tying Tutorial
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- This fly was created by striper guru Henry Cowen. This fly was created to imitate small threadfin shad. This pattern has done hard work for us on our local striper fisheries. In the fall/winter months when our fish are keyed in on those smaller baitfish you'd be hard pressed to catch them on something any bigger.
The Something' else uses Polar Fibre rather than Bucktail (like a classic Clouser Minnow). The idea behind this is, Polar Fibre breathes better than bucktail in smaller sizes. Some may ask, can you just use craft fur? In my opinion, it's not the same. Craft Fur has larger individual fibers than Polar Fibre, therefore, getting a baitfish imitation in small sizes is harder than using Polar Fibre.
Just like many patterns, this fly can be used on a wide variety of species, though the original purpose was, striped bass.
Pretty much every fish out there will eat a baitfish, and the Something Else is just a baitfish fly... On lakes, I've caught largemouth, white bass, bluegill, and a LOT of crappie. On rivers, I've used it for smallmouth and trout successfully!
I typically tie this fly on two hook variations: a size 4 and a size 6. On a size 4 hook I like the fly to come in at about 2 inches. Maybe a little more maybe a little less. On the size 6 fly I keep it in the 1.5 to 1" range. I have a few different sizes on hand in case the baitfish I'm over vary in size.
Another thing that sets this fly apart is the throat. I remember hearing Henry talking about the Fluoro Fibre throat probably 4-5 years ago now, and I started putting it into flies then. I love the effect. Pretty much every Clouser, Deceiver, and similar baitfish style fly I tie anymore includes the Fluoro Fibre throat into.
Overall, this is a pattern that has gives me a lot of confidence. I'm all about simple "guide flies" that don't take too long to make, are simple, and catch the daylights out of different fish species!
We have all materials in the shop and online, but check with your local fly shop first! - Навчання та стиль
It's somethin' else alright!!!!😂😂😂 It's a clouser !
Great video, loved the tip on cutting a square out of the polar fiber. I will definitely be putting that to use! Henry is such a cool guy I was lucky enough to talk to/listen to him talk about striper fishing at a fly fishing expo a few years back. All his knowledge on freshwater stripers has helped me land many on my local waters. I kind of understand people on re-naming a variation, BUT if everything was just called a variation then searching for specific flies like this would be a mess. This fly may look close to one, but it performs completely different than a standard clouser.
Dr. Slick Synthetic Scissors makes cutting the Polar Fiber easier. They have micro-serations, so the blades don't slip as much on the slick synthetic materials.
I wasn't that impressed with the dr slick synthetic scissors. Hinge became notchy, and they blunted quickly. A $10.00 pair of shimano braid scissors does much better.
can you send a link to the website you buy the stuff
Is Polar Fiber easier to work with than craft fur?
Similar, but I think the Polar Fibre is a little bit easier. It’s not a mind blowing difference though.
Similar, but I think the Polar Fibre is a little bit easier. It’s not a mind blowing difference though.
In what way is that not a Clouser Minnow variation?
It is a Clouser Minnow variation. Cowen's fly uses Polar Fibre rather than bucktail. To imitate small threadfin shad you need a different material than bucktail as striper in resevoirs often prefer a fly with more fluid movement in it, and bucktail doesn't move as well when tied under 2". It's the same profile as a traditional Clouser Minnow, but tied for different circumstances. The only overlap in ingredients with a traditional Clouser (other than the hook and the eyes) are the strands of Krystal Flash. It's obviously similar to a Clouser, but is really..."Somethin' Else".
Side note, we didn't name the fly. This is a pattern Henry Cowen has been fishing since the early 2000s. Cheers!
its a clouser minnow I agree. I am not a fan of renaming variants. It's pretty disrespectful if you consider it art.
@@taletellersflyshop1071 Bro, thanks for clarifying the fact YOU didn't name it yourself. BUT it's still a Clouser minnow. I personally would not have titled the video that way; it's a CLOUSER MINNOW. Did I already say that? We---and there's a bunch of us---just want to make sure.
If you make a sandwich, with a ground beef patty, is it still a sandwich?
@@taletellersflyshop1071 and thanks just how Henry describes it in his UA-cam video tying the Somethin else, nice tie yourself thanks.
ten years ago (and probably more) Bob Clouser was showing how to tie synthetic variations of his own pattern, and Bobby Jr too at the BPS in Harrisburg. Whatever. All the "cool kids" of the youtube age gotta put their own name on shit. I guess it takes being a fly tyer for more than four decades or so to get tired of someone changing one material or the thread color or something on a time tested pattern and calling it their own.
I did not name the fly. If you listen to the video you will hear me say this is a Henry Cowen pattern. Henry is a legendary striper guide on Lake Lanier same generation as Bob Clouser, Lefty, and Flip. If you read Cowen's book, "Fly Fishing for Freshwater Striped Bass" you will find his explanation of the pattern, and why he uses it. As well, you can find this exact pattern termed, "Somethin Else" in the Umpqua fly catalog and sold in fly shops all over under that name. It's one of Cowen's many signature series flies that Umpqua sells... Anyways, thanks for watching the video!
Bob Clouser didn't put a pink tutu on his...maybe. I'll tie one using the same steps and technique from my husky's fur and I shall name it the "Alaskan Trout Killer."
@@alcapilit196 I get it for sure. If there were copyright laws in fly tying this fly would be sued. It's a polar fibre clouser minnow with a (your terms) pink tutu haha I like that. I like the fly regardless of the name anyone wants to call it. On another note, I do like to have some kind of name for the fly that is a short. For example, the Half N' Half. If I needed a Half N' Half and asked my buddy for one and he said - I only have Clouser Minnow Feather Butts in my box... That would be a little strange. Of course, that was the original creator that came up with the name (to my knowledge). So, he would have permission to name his own fly variance something else if he wants to. As well, it's Half Clouser/Half Deceiver so the Half N' Half name makes complete sense. I always assumed the "Something Else" was a nod to that thought process. It's a Clouser Minnow, but not EXACTLY it's - something else - BUT I could be way off. I've never asked Henry why the name change was initiated. I'll ask him. At the end of the day, maybe I should call this fly the Craft Fur Pink Tutu Clouser Minnow from now on.
@@taletellersflyshop1071 Haha. That would have elicited a host of less-triggered response from us, bro. And THAT name would have stuck, too. Good video quality, btw. I'm thinking of uploading a tying video one of these days myself. But I want to do a tying demo/successful employment vs trophy fish-type of video. My trophy fish? PNG black bass over here in the Philippines.