Wednesday, April 8, 2020

The Black Ghost

The Black Ghost a streamer fly created by Herb Welch of Haine's Landing, Maine in 1927. It was tied that year at the Boston Sportsmen's Show by Nellie Newton of Portland Maine. From what I have read the first fish caught on the Black Ghost was a five and a half pound brook trout. It was taken in the Songo River, Sebago Lake in Maine. The angler was Mr. Merritt from Connecticut.

Since that time the Black Ghost has been fished worldwide. It has taken trout and Atlantic salmon as well as bass. The streamer is tied in a couple of variations. One of them is a bucktail, the other a marabou version. The fly above is tied as a featherwing which is the original way Herb Welch had it tied.


This is a marabou Black Ghost. I tie this fly and fish it often. I actually prefer it to the featherwing version. Marabou has so much movement in the water and as a casting streamer is far better.


Here they are side by side. The marabou is a shorter fly and the featherwing much longer. The featherwing makes a fine trolling fly and is used often on the lakes and ponds. It is also tied in a tandem style.


Where ever have you seen this photo? A few posts back I told you of my experience fishing it. Aside from the recent post I fished this stream years ago. It was late December. There was ice formed along the banks and the stream had narrowed. I had a Black Ghost marabou tied on. The fly was dropped into the stream and was pulled under the shelf ice. The line went tight and a fish was on. The fight was impressive in that tight stream. Moments later a beautiful male brook trout was at hand. He did not stay on for long and was back in the stream in seconds....this was the time before I carried a camera. He is still etched in my mind.







22 comments:

  1. Hi Alan

    I love the look of those streamer flies.......

    We all have a fish or two who's image is etched in our brains either for its size, colours or the circumstances leading to the catch.

    Thanks for sharing

    Alistair

    BTW Sam was so proud to see the photo below. He has Aspergers and is struggling a bit with the changes forced upon us by COVID 19 but that brightened his day!

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    Replies
    1. Nice tie Alistair. And tell Sam his photo is beautiful!

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    2. Alistair
      Thanks
      Etched indeed. Sam you stay with it. Your photography is awesome.

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  2. Nice marabou version Alan. Any other of these classics you convert?

    Skunked yesterday but it didn't matter. Beautiful day, beautiful scenery and breakfast burritos.

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    Replies
    1. billp
      Thanks
      Bill I have done the Gray Ghost as well as the Black Nose Dace.
      There can never be a bad day when you are out in nature...remember skunks are a part of the natural world and we all have had visits from them.

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  3. Beautiful flies. I caught my first trout on a fly using the Black Ghost winged streamer.

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    1. NJpatbee
      Thanks
      Pat it doesn't surprise me that your first trout was taken a on a black ghost...bet it was a brown.

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  4. Nice work Alan- Do you tie them small? What size Black Ghost do you prefer on small streams? T

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    Replies
    1. Dean F
      Thanks
      Dean I do tie them small. 8 and 10. I like a size 10 tied on a Mustad 3665A hook for small streams.

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  5. Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      I appreciate your comment Mark.

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  6. I know Mr. Welch tied it first but I hear the echo of Carrie Stevens in your featherwing. Beautiful work, Alan.

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    Replies
    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike she had a great deal of influence when it came to tying these beautiful feather-wing streamers. I'm sure she tied a few Black Ghosts in her time.

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  7. Great flies Alan !, very well tied. One of them reminds me of Carrie Stevens' style
    Black Ghost is one of my favorite streamers (I think you already know that)
    Once with one of these flies I caught a beautiful male rainbow trout in the mythical Chimehuin River in Argentine Patagonia.
    I will never forget
    Be fine
    Humberto

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Humberto the feather-wing streamer is tied in the Stevens style. I'm sure your friend Mr. Morales has tied many over the years.
      A special trout and a special fly from lovely waters is something we all remember. Be well.

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  8. Hi Alan,
    I agree with many of the comments above; great pattern and your tying is excellent. The Black Ghost is my confidence streamer pattern even though I have many other patterns in the boxes, the BG gets the nod! Take care and keeps the posts coming. Happy Easter to you and your family!
    Larry

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Larry I'm like you as far as having several streamers in the box. I may not use all of them in and outing but one that will get called to duty is the Black Ghost. Easter wishes to you and family.

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  9. Alan
    One fantastic looking streamer, not only for its ability to attract a hit from a trout or even a smallmouth; but also for it sheer beauty!!
    Great work at the vice,thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill it's a Maine pattern that has gotten world wide acclaim. Functional beauty....

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  10. I have Halyards book on Herb(he did on Carried Stevens to)
    Besides Fly Photos Herb was a excellent artist

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    1. RW Van Brunt
      Thanks
      The author Graydon Hilyard passed away recently.
      Herb was quite a taxidermist. One of his students was Dave Footer.

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    2. I wasn't aware he had gotten away from us. I haven't as yet picked up a copy of their book on Welch, I will now.

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