Black Ghost

Herbert "Herbie" Welch is credited with devising the Black Ghost for the lakes of Maine sometime around 1927.   Despite the instant regional success of Welch's pattern the Black Ghost adorns many fly boxes through the world nearly 100-years later.

I will list the original recipe below, but keep in mind you have different options for the wing,   Welch tied his patterns on long 8x or 10x shank hooks and utilized four white feathers for the wing.  More often than not you'll encounter the pattern tied with marabou or hair vice the feather wings.  Not only does marabou or hair provide more action in the water, but these two materials are easier easier to tie in than four perfectly match feathers.

Just because the Black Ghost isn't the "latest and greatest" streamer doesn't mean it won't catch fish.  Fishing the traditional streamer technique of down and across produces excellent results.  It is also a good pattern to tow around the lake when the fishing is slow.

Materials

Hook:  Choice.  3X to 10X , sizes 2 - 12 (Pictured is TMC 9395 size 4)
Thread:  UTC 70, black. 
Tag:  Not part of the original dressing (optional). (Pictured fine silver Lagartun.)
Tail:  Hackle fibers, yellow.  (Pictured is schlappen.)
Body:  Floss (Black silk pictured).  You may deviate and use wool or chenille
Ribbing:  Medium silver Lagartun  (I prefer 5 turns for the TMC 9395)
Throat:  Hackle fibers, yellow (Pictured is schlappen.)
Wing:  Original wing is 4-white feathers matched.   Any white winging material can be used as a substitute and marabou is perhaps the number one choice.  I elected to use skunk hair near the neck area.  This patch of hair is generally very transparent and is the best polar bear substitute out there.
Eyes:  Jungle cock if you desire to maintain the original recipe.  Some tiers will enlarge the head and paint eyes.