Thursday, October 20, 2011

"Gray Ghost"


There is a little camp that sits on the carry road at Upper Dam, Maine. In this cottage in 1924 the wife of a Maine guide tied one fly fishing's most recognized items. The "Gray Ghost" streamer.

I know as a starting fly fisher it was one of the first flies I purchased and fished with. It was a productive fly then and continues to be to this day.
From what I've read on the history of Carrie's streamers the Gray Ghost was not her first streamer, and I know it was not her last. But I believe it to be her finest.





This plaque sits right across from the little cottage where the Gray Ghost was tied.
There is a well there, with a hand pump. Several cups are there, just as they were in 1924. Stop, fill your cup, take a drink and pause to reflect on what took place here so long ago. I have been here many times, fished the Upper Dam pool, and stood in front of the little cottage. It is a special feeling.....





I tie many streamers, most of them of my own thoughts. I believe they are a form of art, and are beautiful to look at.

But this is a true classic. It's been tied in so many ways, that some of them in fly shop bins don't even look like Carries original.
I have tied this "Gray Ghost" exactly to pattern as she tied it in 1924.


Hook, Martinek Rangeley Streamer
Body, Orange Floss
Tag and Rib, Flat Silver Tinsel
Belly, Peacock Herl, White Bucktail, Golden Pheasant Crest
Wing, Golden Pheasant Crest, Gray Saddle Hackle
Shoulders, Sliver Pheasant
Cheeks, Jungle Cock


21 comments:

  1. Brk Trt,
    nice tribute to a wonderful area, a classic streamer and its tyer....DRYFLYGUY

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  2. Great looking ghost.
    Well done

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  3. Stories like that gove you goose bumps. You just know she's there watching as you tie one. Maybe some day I will have enough talent to try it.

    Mark

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  4. I bet there is a lot of memories in that hose of fishing days gone by.

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  5. That house has some stories to tell...beautiful "ghost", those streamers are something special. Cheers.

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  6. Nice of you to give a nod to the fly fishing history of that area of Maine. Sweet traditional tie also.

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  7. DRYFLYGUY,
    Thanks.
    She was a special lady, not only a fly tyer but an accomplished angler.

    G Lech,
    Thanks.

    Shoreman,
    Thanks.
    It's exactly how I felt.

    Rick Kratzke,
    Thanks.
    I can only imagine the storis tha were told in front of that fireplace.

    Sanders,
    Thanks.
    "Ghostly" stories.

    Todd,
    Thanks.
    A beautiful area....lots of history.

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  8. An amazing creation from someone who tied off the top of her head and an equally great name.

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  9. Excellent! Never made it up there this fall. How about you Brk Trt?

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  10. John,
    Thanks.
    Not only that, she never used a vise to tie her streamers.

    penbayman,
    Thanks.
    I didn't either. Next year buddy.

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  11. Love it Alan! I need to plan a road trip out that way sometime soon.

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  12. Darren MacEachern,
    Thanks.
    It's really a special place. And your love of streamers, you'll have a great time.

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  13. What a sweet looking Streamer with a great history to it. Cool plaque and area too. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Tight Lines..

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  14. Trout MaGee,
    Thanks.
    Streamers,old flies, all have wonderful histories.

    I'm going to do a feature from your home state soon.

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  15. Very cool post! Things like this are why I'm more inclined to tie on a classic pattern instead of some new creation. Fishing them seems to reconnect you to the past in a way and it's a good feeling.

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  16. Bill,
    Thanks.
    I love fishing old fly patterns. I feel as if I'm fishing in those times.

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  17. Excellent post! I just finished reading a book about Carrie Stevens and her fly patterns. The Gray Ghost is on my "to tie" list. Nice job as always on the fly.

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  18. Kiwi,
    Thanks.
    She was a wonderful fly tyer.
    Was the book written by Hilyard?

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  19. Beauty of a Ghost, Alan. I'd love to visit Upper Dam one of these days.

    Mike

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  20. Brk Trt,
    I'm watching Boston's channel 5's Chronicle this evening on Rangley Maine. They had/have a nice snippet on Carrie Stevens & her streamers she created, as well as covering Cornelia "fly rod" Crosby.

    Interesting......DRYFLYGUY

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  21. Mike Norwood,
    Thanks.
    If you go you won't be dissapionted.

    DRYFLYGUY,
    Thanks.
    Do you know if it will be rebroadcasted?
    Is that a PBS channel?

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