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Grey Ghost tied on Mustad 3666 hook. |
The Grey Ghost trout lure was introduced by Kilwell Sports of Rotorua at least 40 years ago. It is a popular smelting fly for fishing the central North Island lakes of Taupo and Rotorua. It also makes a good searun trout pattern for fishing Canterbury River mouths partiuclarly when the water is clear.
Hook size: 2-8. A good strong hook to use is the Black Magic 2x Long Shank. This fly was tied for decades on Mustad 3666 lure hooks. When casting to smelting rainbows around stream mouths in the central North Island the smaller size 6 to 8 is preferred. For searun brown trout in Canterbury where the water is likely to be at least a little discoloured size 2 hooks would be a better choice.
As a harling fly it is also fished in a size 2. However on a slow day harling lures in clear water going down in fly size is certainly worth a try.
Tail: Red, yellow or grey whisks. A tail is not strictly necessary.
Body: Flat silver tinsel. A lime chenille bodied version is popular in the Taupo area according to Huge McDowell in New Zealand Fly Tying - The Ten-Thumbed Beginner's Guide. This version is certainly loud and easier for fish to spot. It must work or it wouldn't sell as well as it does. I've also seen Grey Ghosts in the shops with pink bodies; perhaps to suggest a tiny rainbow trout fry. You can make a realistic looking Grey Ghost body by tying in half a dozen strips of Krystal Flash at the tail and wrapping them along the hook before tying off at the head. Another good body material to use is Silver Diamond Braid - available from tackle stores. Diamond Braid is thicker and quicker to apply especially in the larger hook sizes.
Rib: Silver oval tinsel.
Wing: Four grey hackles tied down matuku style. McDowell suggests that the shade of grey used in the wing feathers is quite important and accordingly he carries different colour versions ranging from dark sooty grey to almost white.
Collar: Grey hackle often omitted in the smaller sizes.
Head: Black. Painting on small white eyes really brings this fly to life and makes it look like a more than passable whitebait imitation. A particularly luxurious version can be created by the addition of jungle cock eyes at the head to form what is called a Grey Ghost Imperial.
I usually add four strips of Krystal Flash to the sides of my Grey Ghosts for that little something extra!
See also Ginger Mick Trout Fly , Rabbit Lures, Taupo Tiger, Parsons' Glory, and Yellow Lady.
Return to Feathered Lures for Trout and Salmon in New Zealand.
