Designed by California angler Charlie Bisharat, the Pole Dancer is one of the most innovative topwater flies ever created for targeting aggressive predators. Inspired by the “walk-the-dog” action of classic surface plugs, Bisharat engineered a fly that could dart, slash, and zigzag across the surface—something few, if any, large streamer flies had achieved before. The result was a pattern that completely changed how anglers approach topwater fly fishing for big game. The Pole Dancer features a buoyant, wedge-shaped foam head that gives it its signature side-to-side swagger. A long, flashy body of synthetic fibers trails behind, creating the profile of a wounded baitfish struggling on the surface. When stripped correctly with short, sharp pops, the Pole Dancer kicks from side to side in a walking motion that drives fish wild. It has become a proven pattern for a wide range of species, from largemouth bass and striped bass to peacock bass, golden dorado, and saltwater heavyweights like roosterfish and jacks. Fish a size 1/0 for species like large and smallmouth bass or schoolie stripers, while the 3/0 is a safer bet for species like peacocks, dorado, big stripers, jacks, or roosterfish.
