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Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Gray Ghost showing four long gray hackle wings, orange body with silver rib, white bucktail and peacock underbelly, silver shoulder and cheekIllustrated reference

Streamer · guide 83

Gray Ghost

Carrie Stevens's layered Rangeley-style featherwing streamer with an orange body and long gray wing.

Common size
#2–6 in the FFI guide
Common colors
orange body, gray wing, silver accents, white underbelly
Imitates
smelt, slender baitfish
How to recognize it

An orange floss body with silver tag and rib, white bucktail and peacock underbelly, golden-pheasant crest, four long gray hackle wings, silver-pheasant shoulders, jungle-cock-style cheeks, and black head identify the reviewed Gray Ghost.

Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Gray Ghost showing four long gray hackle wings, orange body with silver rib, white bucktail and peacock underbelly, silver shoulder and cheek
Illustrated reference

Gray Ghost reviewed side profile

A schematic profile emphasizing four long gray hackle wings and orange body with silver rib.

View
reviewed side profile
Color shown
orange body, gray wing, silver accents, and white underbelly
Look for
four long gray hackle wings; orange body with silver rib; white bucktail and peacock underbelly; silver shoulder 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

  • In northeastern trout and landlocked-salmon waters with smelt or similar forage.
  • For casting or trolling according to local water and fly size.
02

How to fish it

  • Strip or swing smaller casting forms; troll only where appropriate and legal.
  • Keep the long wing straight so the fly tracks without spinning.
03

Mistakes to avoid

  • Simplifying the multi-layer wing into a generic gray streamer.
  • Calling a Grey Ghost spelling variation a separate pattern.

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 core form

An orange floss body with silver tag and rib, white bucktail and peacock underbelly, golden-pheasant crest, four long gray hackle wings, silver-pheasant shoulders, jungle-cock-style cheeks, and black head identify the reviewed Gray Ghost.
Colors shown
orange body, gray wing, silver accents, white underbelly
Weighting
Weighting is identified when it defines the reviewed form; cone, wire, jig, and unweighted choices remain labeled variants.

Related patterns

Black Ghost Streamer ↗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

Fly Fishers InternationalFly of the Month: Gray Ghost↗

Image credits