You don't need to go far to catch a fish

Lake leisure
You don't need to go far to catch a fish
LISA GRUBER | CIN WEEKLY CONTRIBUTOR

The lake's surface glimmers like golden sparklers on the Fourth of July
as a light breeze caresses us fisherpersons inside our rowboat on this
cloudless day. My focus strays between the light-hearted sounds of
birds chirping and the beauty of a purple dragonfly passerby; three
bobbers remain quietly undisturbed by the lake's deeper inhabitants.

TO THE LAKE

My friend Elliott Bavely, of Kenwood, accompanies me on this fishing
excursion at Lake Isabella in Symmes Township with his 6-year-old son,
David Spence of Delhi Township. Neither of them are strangers to the
sport, though they've never fished together before today.

Upon arriving, we were assisted by the ever-busy and oh-so-helpful
Michael Calvo, boathouse foreman, who helped us acquire life jackets,
seat pillows, fishing poles and bait. Then he instructed us to go pick
out a rowboat and have a great time.

Now tranquilly floating near a "snag" of tree branches jutting up from
the bottom of the lakeshore, Elliott begins to bait our hooks with the
wiggling grubs he extracts from sawdust in a plastic container. A
familiar animal sound echoes toward us from the shore.

"What's that," David asks, "a bee?"

"It's a frog," Elliott says.

"How do you know?" David asks with skepticism on his face.

How does he know? He can't see it emitting that croaking noise. Well,
he just knows. He's a dad, after all.

Even though it's a busy Saturday afternoon, the lake still feels
serene, as only a couple other boats have left the pier. Most of the
other fisherpersons cling to the shaded shore along this former rock
quarry.

NO FISH FOR US

After a couple hours of casting, reeling and waiting, we still haven't
gotten any bites, and David decides he wants to go get some ice cream.
That's what's great about Lake Isabella: It's close enough that even if
a child's or the weather's whims turn a day trip into a short
excursion, it doesn't become a wasted drive. It's also secluded enough
that you can still feel like you've escaped the city; it's a place
where you can let Mother Nature tickle your senses and patiently wait
to spot that bullfrog jump from bank to bank. It's a relaxing getaway,
even if you don't catch a thing.

FISHING AT LAKE ISABELLA
WHAT: Lake Isabella pay lake in the Hamilton County Park District.

WHEN: Open March 6 through Oct. 24. Fish 7 a.m. to dark
Sunday-Thursday. Fish 24 hours Friday and Saturday, May 7 through Sept.
11. Pitch a tent and fish all night!

WHE 10174 Loveland-Madeira Road, Symmes Township.

PARKING: $1 per day or $3 for a year permit, good at all Hamilton
County parks.

PRICE: Fishing $7.50 for adults, free for kids 12 and under. Bait
$2.35-$4.25. Rowboat rentals $8 to $10; a $5 deposit is required.
Fishing pole rental is $6.50 for 6 hours with a $10 deposit required.

CONTACT: Call (513) 791-1663 or visit www.hamiltoncountyparks.org.

ETC.: Lake Isabella also has free fishing tournaments and fishing
clinics for kids. Fish stocked in this 28-acre lake include largemouth
bass, rainbow trout, crappie, sunfish and Northern pike. The lake is
stocked weekly.

AREA FISHING HOLES
HAMILTON CO.

Call the park district's fishing hotline (513) 728-3551 ext. 373 or
visit www.hamiltoncountyparks.org.

Miami Whitewater Forest
An 85-acre lake located near Harrison. Call (513) 367-9632.

Sharon Woods
This 35-acre lake is located near Sharonville. Call (513) 769-4326.

Winton Woods
Fish at this 188-acre lake near Forest Park. Call (513) 931-1849.

OHIO PUBLIC FISHING
Visit www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/fishing/ for information on fishing
in the Ohio River, Great Miami River and other public waters.

OHIO STATE PARKS
Call (800) BUCKEYE or visit www.ohiostateparks.org.

East Fork
2,160-acre lake is located in Clermont County. Call (513) 734-4323.

Stonelick
A 171-acre lake located in Clermont County. Call (513) 625-7544.

Hueston Woods
Acton Lake near Oxford offers 590 acres of fishing water. Call (513)
523-6347.

Cowan Lake
This 700-acre lake is located near Wilmington. Call (937) 382-1096.

KY. STATE PARKS
A Kentucky fishing license is required to fish at these lakes, which
offer fishing from the shore year-round. Visit parks.ky.gov.

Big Bone Lick
Located near Union, 22 miles southwest of Covington, this park features
a 7.5-acre lake. Call (859) 384-3522.

Kincaid Lake
This 183-acre lake is located near Falmouth, 48 miles southeast of
Covington. Call (859) 654-3531.

General Butler
The 30-acre Butler Lake is located in Carrollton, 53 miles southwest of
Covington. Call (502) 732-4384.

PAY LAKES
For a list of Ohio pay lakes, visit www.placesohio.com and click
"Fishing Lakes."

FISHING LICENSES:
=B7 Are required to fish in public waters (such as the Ohio River).

=B7 Are NOT required to fish in a private pond or lake or in pay lakes.

=B7 Are NOT required for children age 15 and under and seniors over age
65.

=B7 In Ohio cost $19 for a license valid March 1-Feb. 28.

=B7 Can be purchased in Ohio or Kentucky at Wal-Mart, Dick's Sporting
Goods, Meijer, Kmart or other locations.

=B7 Can be purchased online at www.greatlodge.com (Ohio) or fw.ky.gov
(Kentucky).

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