The Yellow Dancer

by Jonathan

The Yellow Dancer is a relative newcomer on the fly fishing scene.  It is a ‘sport’ of the original Woolley Bugger devised by our friends north of the border. It has proved to be a ‘must have’ fly on most Scottish still water trout fisheries. As is always the case it has spawned the usual derivatives, Black Dancer , Orange Dancer, and I expect in the fullness of time we will have the Highland Dancer. I had to resort to my favourite fishing magazine , Fly Fishing and Fly Tying to get the dressing. It is a straight forward tie if you do the proper preparation.

The Dressing

  • Hook – Kamasan 175 or similar , sizes 8 / 10.
  • Tail – White marabou with a few strands of pearlescent micro flash.
  • Body – Rainbow flashabou or similar.
  • Rib – Fine gold oval.
  • Hackle – Long yellow cock palmered.
  • Head – Gold bead to suit hook size.

 

Dave C. and the Team

 

{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

Greg Lockhart June 27, 2011 at 4:06 pm

Hi Dave,
I have been tying your yellow dancer for some time now but use more holo tinsel for the body under the yellow hackle.I have also had great sucess using the tying with white booby eyes to create the Dancer Booby…it has been deadly on Beecraigs where we fish every week…I had a double ticket last week when I had ten fish for 25lb in a morning while my boat partner took five after switching to the Dancer.We were using fast intermediate lines with a 6ft leader and an Orange booby on the bob at 3ft. GREG

Calum February 19, 2011 at 8:21 am

Hi Dave, whats your biggest rainbow trout.

If you’re ever coming up to fish somewhere in Scotland and you need advice I’l give you some, just say. Tied a few of these bad boys for Swanswater fishery on a 2 fly cast, his was my point fly, my dropper was a mirage ribbed damsel,, and I lost 7 fish, really not my day, fished hem with a dead slow figure of eight to let the marabou flow nicely, my line was a sink tip when here was a frost then I changed to a slow when it warmed up, only started tying 5 monts ago, caught my first fish on a Candy cat ( See davey mcphail) and that wwas my first time fishing my own flies, swanswater was my second time with my own flies, soo very happy & thanks for taking you’re time out to show us these great videos. ( Your sons music and camera work is also great!)

Calum February 6, 2011 at 8:27 pm

This is one of my favourite flies, do you ever use the forum on Fly fishing and Fly tying’s website, I do and as I mentoined earlier I’m a subscriber.

Calum February 5, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Irishangler, I’m not DaveC but what I use instead of flashabou is either opal mirage or peacock sparkle stuff, works a treat!

Jon Ractliffe September 30, 2010 at 5:57 am

Dave
I tried this fly out on some still water and a couple of deep pools in the Black Hills. Took three nice fish on it. I am glad I tried it.
Regards
Jon R.
South Dakota.

brad April 15, 2010 at 11:34 pm

once again you are so good at tying flys you are very very good thanks for teching my this

Sgt.John March 8, 2010 at 6:19 pm

GREAT Jig: I only changed the hook.
replaced with a 1/0 Eagle Claw, Bronze Hook.
This jig will work you to death catching BASS.
Down south at Reelfoot Lake you can catch
2.5 to 3 lbs Crappie with this same jig…
Your videos are the BEST……
Thank you for this Jigs.

irish angler December 17, 2009 at 7:57 pm

is there any other material you can use other than rainbow flashabou

Alex December 6, 2009 at 4:29 am

Dave,
Have you ever gone saltwater fly fishing, if so could you make some saltwater fly tying videos?

DaveC June 13, 2009 at 11:24 pm

Hi Laxy
Thanks for your comments.
Trout and salmon flies come in all shapes and sizes. There are patterns devized by the Americans for their waters , but only their bass flies are different to UK patterns. Certain parts of Europe have their own patterns which I think are tied to fish their types of river. Many years ago I used to tie flies for the white farmers in Kenya and they were English north country spider patterns. I have recently fished New Zealand and caught ‘proper trout’ on small nymphs and woolley buggers.
It is only mankind that thinks about what to use …….the fish are looking for anything that looks edible.
A good book to read is Taff Prices , FLY PATTERNS AN INTERNATIONAL GUIDE .
Hope this helps
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team

Laxy June 9, 2009 at 3:45 pm

Hi Dave and team

I’ve watched all you videos and thoroughly enjoyed them, thank you. I’m from South Africa and was wondering whether trout flies are universal all over the world or if specific flies only work in certain areas / countries.

Please advise.

Regards
Laxy

gustav May 19, 2009 at 4:06 pm

hey this fly have bin my favorite fore a long time and i have catched my biggest fich on it all thanks too you so thank you

gustav h 13 years old

topflyman May 15, 2009 at 11:17 pm

Hi Green Reel Man
Thanks for your comments. We had not thought about doing foam flies but will bear it in mind. They are simple to tie just so long as you dont want to copy Gods creatures too exactly.
Happy Fishing
DaveC.and the Team

The Green Reel Man May 14, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Hello dave i love your vidios they help me alot. I was woundering if you could do one on tying foam like ants, grasshoppers,spiders ect useing foam thanks and keep up the good work

topflyman May 13, 2009 at 10:49 pm

Hi Nigel
Thanks for your comments. You must find it difficult sourcing your materials out in Bahrain. Hope you have a good trip to Scotland and catch more than your share.
Happy Fishing
DaveC. and the Team

Nigel Preece May 12, 2009 at 9:50 pm

Hi Dave,

Just to say my sincere thanks for your site. An absolutely marvelous resource for a beginner – especially when you are in Bahrain !

Will be in Scotland in July 2009 on leave and will start putting some of this invaluable information into action.

Thanks again,

Nigel

birdpoo May 12, 2009 at 9:48 pm

I’ve been hiding in my nest observing your fantastic work. Its spring now, so I have fallen from my roost to flying. Thank god I found your bugs. Muchly appreciated here in the states. Thanks Mr. Cammiss

oldsmugglerflyfishing May 12, 2009 at 9:34 pm

Hello there Davis! It´s nice to visit your blog again.

That yellow dancer looks very tempting, as you can read now I think just like a trout, just kidding.

One question: instead of using rainbow flashabou for the body, can I use peacock? I mean a very bulky peacock body.

Regards.

Toongaz May 12, 2009 at 9:27 pm

hi dave and the team.
i like yourself as you may have seen am from the north east of the country, i have been a silent fan for a few months now but i feel i have to post as this fly is like my little secret weapon, i first used it at Chatton after 4 hours of not a bite, i saw this fly sitting in my box and thought i would give it a try …7 fish later i began to like it.
but the main point to this post is to thank you for bringing me a huge interest to tie my own flies, you have made it look alot easier than i ever thought it was to do this hobbie, which has in turn made my wife lose even more time with her husband. (she dosnt mind really haha)
thank you for the hours you and your family have put into this great site and collection, and who knows we may bump into eachother on the water someday.
Gary L
Cramlington

bseiner May 12, 2009 at 9:26 pm

Thanks for all of the great videos Dave! You are a great teacher! I can’t wait to give my flies a try on the lakes and streams of the Black Hills.
Buddy Seiner
South Dakota

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