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Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Black Ghost Streamer showing white marabou wing, black body with silver rib, yellow tail and throat, peacock lateral line and cheekIllustrated reference

Streamer · guide 82

Black Ghost Streamer

Herb Welch's black-bodied Maine streamer, represented here by the common white-marabou-wing form.

Common size
#2–10 for the reviewed marabou form
Common colors
black body, white wing, yellow accents, silver rib
Imitates
smelt or baitfish, stunned baitfish
How to recognize it

The reviewed marabou form has a black body, silver tag and rib, yellow tail and throat, white marabou wing, peacock-herl lateral line, jungle-cock-style cheeks, and black head. The original featherwing Black Ghost is a materially different traditional form and remains clearly named.

Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Black Ghost Streamer showing white marabou wing, black body with silver rib, yellow tail and throat, peacock lateral line and cheek
Illustrated reference

Black Ghost Streamer reviewed side profile

A schematic profile emphasizing white marabou wing and black body with silver rib.

View
reviewed side profile
Color shown
black body, white marabou wing, yellow accents, and silver rib
Look for
white marabou wing; black body with silver rib; yellow tail and throat; peacock lateral line and cheek
Open full-size image ↗

On the water

Know when and how to fish it.

Use these tips as a starting point. The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation.

01

When to use it

  • For brook trout, other trout, or landlocked salmon around current breaks and baitfish water.
  • Where a stark dark-and-white streamer is useful.
02

How to fish it

  • Swing, strip, troll, or dead-drift according to water type.
  • Use the marabou form when added wing movement is desired.
03

Mistakes to avoid

  • Presenting the marabou recipe as visually identical to Welch's original featherwing.
  • Omitting the yellow and peacock identifying accents.

Common variations

Small changes can make a different fly.

Three reviewed technical illustrations show the identifying profile, construction, and fishing orientation. They are schematic field-guide aids, not photographs; materially different named or traditional forms stay labeled.

Reviewed marabou form

The reviewed marabou form has a black body, silver tag and rib, yellow tail and throat, white marabou wing, peacock-herl lateral line, jungle-cock-style cheeks, and black head. The original featherwing Black Ghost is a materially different traditional form and remains clearly named.
Colors shown
black body, white wing, yellow accents, silver rib
Weighting
Weighting is identified when it defines the reviewed form; cone, wire, jig, and unweighted choices remain labeled variants.

Related patterns

Gray Ghost ↗Mickey Finn ↗Baitfish and Minnow Patterns ↗

How this guide was checked

Fly information and photo sources.

Guide checked on 2026-07-12. Every image has its own source and usage record. Natural insects and hand-tied flies can vary in shape and proportion.

Pattern sources

Orvis NewsTying the Black Ghost Marabou Streamer↗

Image credits