Henry's Flies
Original patterns designed by Henry Cowen — tried, tested, and proven on stripers, albies, bonito, redfish, tarpon, and more.
Cowen's Mullet
One of the great favorites of southern fish (and fishermen). Huge mullet schools provide plenty of forage for barracuda, kings, amberjack, and more. This mullet imitation is a prime pattern for anglers working close to shore. Sizes #2 (~2½") and #1/0 (~3¼"). Color: Natural.
Thread: Danville mono (.006 fine)
Underbelly: White Polar Fibre
Wing: Grey Polar Fibre over white Polar Fibre
Over Wing: Peacock herl
Flash: Pearl Krystal Flash blended with smolt blue Krystal Flash
Body: E-Z Body Braid (large), natural
Eyes: Prismatic stick-on (silver, black pupil, #3)
Glue: Devcon 5-minute epoxy
Cowen's Bonefish Scampi
Developed in the mid-1990s after a week guiding out of Andros Island Bonefish Club, where guides wanted a fly with a longer wing and more built-in movement than the era's standard patterns. Henry answered with rabbit strip for lifelike breathing action and a translucent polar fiber wing — essentially a Gotcha on steroids. It went on to fish well across the Bahamas, Mexico, Belize, Los Roques, the Seychelles, and the Florida Keys, was voted Best Flats Fly by Fly Fisherman Magazine in 2002, and remains part of Umpqua's bonefish lineup today. It's also proven deadly on carp, redfish, and striped bass. Approx. 1½"–2½" depending on hook size.
Thread: 6/0 pale pink (pink/tan) or orange (tan)
Tail: Pearl Mylar Braid
Body: Pearl Mylar Braid, palmered
Underwing: Tan zonker strip
Overwing: Shrimp or pale pink Polar Fibre (or light gold craft fur)
Veil: Pearl Krystal Flash
Eyes: Medium bead chain or extra small lead dumbbell
Cowen's Magnum Baitfish
Approx. 8" in length. This fly, tied with Icelandic sheep, held the 20 lb class tippet world record for striped bass (36+ lbs) for many years. A newer flash-n-slinky version recently took the women's 20 lb class tippet world record (27+ lbs).
Thread: Danville mono (.006 fine)
Eyes: Epoxy 3-D (#8 silver, black pupil)
Weight: Lead wire (.035, wrapped around shank)
Braid: Flat body braid (pearl)
Underbelly: White Flash-N-Slinky
Wing: Olive over lavender (bunker) or royal blue over pink (herring) Flash-N-Slinky
Throat: Fluoro Fibre (hot pink)
Glue: Soft Tex, used off the bend
Cowen's Coyote
Approx. 3½" in length. Designed as a fly fisherman's "roadrunner lure" — by far the most effective searching pattern Henry has used for any species that isn't visible. Has caught stripers, albies, bonito, weakfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, redfish, tarpon, speckled trout, snook, and every freshwater bass species.
Thread: Danville mono (.006 fine)
Eyes: Real Eyes (medium) w/ prismatic stick-on (silver, black pupil)
Braid: Flat body braid (pearl)
Mono Spike: 40 lb test
Body: White zonker
Wing: Bucktail (chartreuse, olive over hot pink, grey over lavender, or blue over chartreuse)
Flash: Krystal Flash (pearl)
Barrel Swivel: #12 (black)
Split Ring: #0 (nickel)
Spinner Blade: #00 Hammered Colorado (gold or nickel)
Cowen's Baitfish
Approx. 4" in length, sizes 2, 2/0, 4/0. The polar fiber tail moves naturally unlike any other synthetic, the weighted hook gets it down fast, and the hot pink Fluoro Fibre throat changes color in the light and drives fish nuts. Colors: chartreuse/white, olive/white.
Thread: Danville mono (.006 fine)
Eyes: Epoxy 3-D (#6 silver, black pupil)
Weight: Lead wire (.035, wrapped around shank)
Braid: Flat body braid (pearl)
Tail: White Polar Fibre
Underbelly: White Flash-N-Slinky
Wing: Olive Flash-N-Slinky over lavender, grey over lavender, or all chartreuse
Throat: Fluoro Fibre (hot pink)
Glue: Soft Tex, just beyond hook bend on Polar Fibre
Cowen's Albie Anchovie
A small baitfish imitation designed for false albacore, but great for bonito and other small tunny too. Because of their smaller mouths, little tunny go after smaller baitfish schools. Sizes #6 (~1¾") and #4 (~2½"). Color: Shrimp/Tan.
Thread: Danville mono (.006 fine)
Underbelly: Shrimp Polar Fibre
Wing: Olive Polar Fibre over shrimp Polar Fibre
Belly Sac: Silver Gliss-N-Glow (or similar)
Body: E-Z Body Braid (medium), natural
Eyes: Prismatic stick-on (silver, black pupil, #2)
Glue: Devcon 5-minute epoxy
Cowen's Silverside
Perfectly imitates one of the most important baitfish of the Atlantic season. Its 3" length also matches a wide range of other baitfish, including sand eels and spearing, making it an ideal general pattern. The epoxy body mimics the quick, darting motion of the natural and is as essential as the Clouser and Deceiver when pursuing bonito and false albacore as well as stripers. Slight weight keeps it under the surface in a current. Color: Olive/Silver. Approx. 2¾" in length.
Thread: Danville mono (.006 fine)
Underbelly: White Polar Fibre
Wing: Olive Polar Fibre
Lateral Line: Silver tinsel (small)
Body: E-Z Body Braid (medium), natural
Eyes: Prismatic stick-on (silver, black pupil, #2)
Glue: Devcon 5-minute epoxy
Cowen's Sand Eel
The sand eel is a small staple baitfish that schools in the millions and provides a great portion of the predator's diet, particularly in the northeast. Stripers push these schools toward the shore at night and can often be seen feeding on them all night on the beaches of New England. This little pattern offers a great representation with plenty of movement and a terrific profile. Color: Silver. Approx. 2¾" in length.
Thread: Danville mono (.006 fine)
Underbelly: White Polar Fibre
Wing: Olive Polar Fibre
Lateral Line: Silver tinsel (extra small)
Body: E-Z Body Braid (small), natural
Eyes: Prismatic stick-on (silver, black pupil, #1½)
Glue: Devcon 5-minute epoxy
Somethin' Else
At a glance it looks like a scaled-down Clouser minnow — and it is, but with a trick built in. The fly's breathable profile and a touch of fluorescent pink Fluoro Fibre give it a lifelike pulse in the water. Fish it with short, quick strips and a three-second pause; the take almost always comes as the fly free-falls. Colors: Gray/White, Olive/White. Sizes #2 and #4. Now available through Umpqua Feather Merchants as one of Henry's signature patterns.
Thread: Danville mono (size .006 fine)
Dumbbell Eyes: Small
Underbelly: White Polar Fibre
Flash: Silver Krystal Flash
Throat: Hot pink Fluoro Fibre
Wing: Grey Polar Fibre (or olive)
Cowen's Redfish Scampi
A shrimpy, crustacean-style pattern built for tailing and cruising redfish, with a gold dumbbell and flash package designed to get noticed in skinny, off-colored water. Tied in tan or rust to match natural shrimp and crab tones. Sizes #4 and #1.
Thread: Nano Silk 100 (tan or rust)
Dumbbell Eyes: Small or medium gold
Rear Flash: Gold Mylar (small or medium)
Underbelly: Zonker strip (tan or rust)
Wing: Tan or rust
Top Flash: 2pcs pearl Krystal Flash