Yes, I've been a few times to Shiner. Last time a couple of weeks ago I got a couple of bows on the same fly, I think (they got off). Since I had both the green caddis and the black wooley bugger, I wasn't sure on some of the hits. I took a closer look at my hook and realized it was bent, no doubt due to the encounter with a 10-15# salmon a week earlier at Wilmot Creek. Man, I was never so happy to lose a fish with my 9wt. My fingers are still burning. Earlier this summer there were a father and son trolling "cricket knockers" and they couldn't keep them off. They limited out in 2 hours! The green one was getting more. I like Shiner. Being so small, you can float around the whole lake in order to discover where they are.
As far as Limestone is concerned, I go there mainly for the scenery and the clear water (hate the mucky shoreline!). All the rainbows I've seen caught there (and I have caught none, I'm sorry to admit) have been in the morning and none on a fly this year. I'm told wooley buggers work, when flies work at all.
I think you have to go deep and scrape the bottom. I like the reef straight off the bluff. On the float tube I mainly use my 8 and 9wt rod as they happen to be the tallest, I own.
Back in BC, in my childhood, I used to fish Jocko Lake, 15 minutes out of Kamloops. My dad and I would regularly catch 3-5 pounders in a matter of a couple of hours any given evening after work. I understand now it has 50 fishers on it each day. When I left Kelowna 12 years ago, if you knew a lake which could produce a fish, you told no-one. They are just as negligent on conservation there as they are here.
bobfly
