Grey Ghost Streamer
Encyclopedia
The Grey Ghost Streamer is an artificial fly
, of the streamer type. Its primary function is to imitate smelt. The pattern is widespread and is popular along the Northeast of the United States. The Grey Ghost is used by trolling or drifting the fly. A Dead Drift technique may be used as well. The streamer's wing gives it a swimming action while trolling or using the Dead Drift technique. Many variations of the streamer occur, mostly to cut down on cost and tying time.
The streamer was first tied in 1924 by Carrie G. Stevens of Madison, Maine
. Mrs. Stevens was the wife of Maine Guide Wallace Stevens. She tied many other flies in a style known as the Rangeley Style during her free time. Most of her streamers have the jungle cock cheeks in common. The streamer is regarded as one of her best creations. The pattern is mostly used for trout
, of which it is successfully fished. When Mrs. Stevens went to the Upper Dam pool to test it out, she quickly hooked a 6 pound 13 ounce brook trout
, of which she promptly placed it in a Field & Stream
competition and took second prize. After that day, she was now heavily in the fly tying business and had made fly fishing history.
Artificial fly
An artificial fly or fly lure is a type of fishing lure, usually used in the sport of fly fishing . In general, artificial flies are the bait which fly fishers present to their target species of fish while fly fishing...
, of the streamer type. Its primary function is to imitate smelt. The pattern is widespread and is popular along the Northeast of the United States. The Grey Ghost is used by trolling or drifting the fly. A Dead Drift technique may be used as well. The streamer's wing gives it a swimming action while trolling or using the Dead Drift technique. Many variations of the streamer occur, mostly to cut down on cost and tying time.
The streamer was first tied in 1924 by Carrie G. Stevens of Madison, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Mrs. Stevens was the wife of Maine Guide Wallace Stevens. She tied many other flies in a style known as the Rangeley Style during her free time. Most of her streamers have the jungle cock cheeks in common. The streamer is regarded as one of her best creations. The pattern is mostly used for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, of which it is successfully fished. When Mrs. Stevens went to the Upper Dam pool to test it out, she quickly hooked a 6 pound 13 ounce brook trout
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
, of which she promptly placed it in a Field & Stream
Field & Stream
Field & Stream is a magazine featuring hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities in the United States. Together with Sports Afield and Outdoor Life, it is considered one of the Big Three of American outdoor publishing....
competition and took second prize. After that day, she was now heavily in the fly tying business and had made fly fishing history.
Example pattern
- Tag- flat silver tinsel
- Body- orange floss
- Ribbing- flat silver tinsel
- Belly Wing- white bucktail, golden pheasant crest, peacock herl
- Wing- olive-grey saddle hackle, golden pheasant crest
- Shoulder- white and black striped body feather from silver pheasant
- Cheeks- jungle cock