The metal enhanced fluorescence of thiacyanine dye monomers in polymer films has been studied. To control the distance between dye molecules and silver nanoparticles a polymer spacer has been used. The spacer thickness has been varied using a layer-by-layer assembly method of polyelectrolytes. The best 4.5 times fluorescence enhancement has been observed for the 20 nm thick polymer spacer. The result has been confirmed both by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopies.