Mueller 's Lake provides recreation for the fisherman 's family. 



But it is the fishing that folks enjoy most and talk about. 

 And it is fishing to which the commercial pools are dedicated. 

 Here's how one of the average playgrounds operates: 



If a farmer or investor decides to build, it is best to have the 

 dam on fairly high ground, with a graded drainage area. 



We'll say that our man has his lake, either old or new. His 

 next problem is to get live fish. Most supplies come from Lake 

 Erie, and most fish truckers are based there. But several Cin- 

 cinnati firms specialize in carting bass, catfish, pike, and other 

 species in aerated tanks over the 200 miles from the nearest of 

 the Great Lakes. A few come directly from the Ohio River. Each 

 truck carries i to i y 2 tons of live fish. Loads can be split if owners 

 desire, but purchasers of full loads on a regular basis can get a 

 price reduction. 



In spring and fall, when the weather is cool, operators can get 

 mixed loads. Channel cats, which can be shipped all summer, 

 are most popular. Others are walleyed pike, freshwater drum, 

 northern pike, black bass, white bass, shovelheads, and blue- 

 gills. Some owners shy away from bluegills, fearing that the 

 great reproductive powers of this small gamester may bring over- 

 population. Some species of catfish, notably yellow cats and 

 marble heads, are equally despised. But there are pools which 

 specialize, successfully, in these varieties. 



The fish vary in size. Each pool owner likes to have a few 

 big babies sometimes a large as 20 pounds in his menagerie. 

 When a lunker is taken, the resultant talk brings business, and 

 the big ones grow as tales of rod and reel battles are told and 

 retold. For general purposes, however, catfish which run from 

 1/2 to 2 pounds are ideal. Bass should start at i pound; walleyes 

 a little larger. 



The owner now has his lake stocked. How does he get busi- 

 ness? He can advertise in newspapers and the telephone direc- 

 tory. He can get some publicity through outdoor columns of 

 newspapers. He can distribute cards through sporting-goods 

 stores and retail bait shops. He won't have any trouble working 

 up a brisk trade if fish are plentiful, and if they'll bite. 



The average charge for a day's fishing varies widely, but usu- 



Pay lakes like Keller's began as a sideline to farming. 227 



