Never been to Isabella.  I could probably ask someone on another site for you.  If you're in the area, might be worth checking out Mason.  You're going to need a hand at the boat ramp as its steep.  Alot of skiiers in the summer, but I've had good luck out there.  Clear water Largies.  I swear I have Fishing and hunting news mags from 10 yrs back that show huge Smallies from Mason, but haven't heard about them or seen them since.

Henry and I fished Isabella about three years ago and only caught 1 fish. It was a good one though.

Lot's of weeds on the bottom. The day we fished it was REAL windy.

Smitty's storyin' again!    Quite a few years ago, Smitty, Phil Hudgens, myself, and another WBC member went to Isabella and Mason on a Saturday, taking in both lakes, with two boats. I boated a 4 lb 6 oz LM and weighed it in front of Phil and Smitty. It was caught roughly across from the boatlaunch, along the far shore, where the bank started to get less steep. Lucky Strike G-4, in "Camo" (aka PB&J).

We went on over to Mason about noon, and it was indeed a zoo. Smitty and Phil stopped on the first point, we stopped on the second point, and my backseater had a dink smallie in the boat before I got the trolling motor down. Lots of dink Smallies. We saw Smitty go by, and after awhile, went looking for them. Found 'em, fishing a dock on a flat, and had a yak. Asked which way they were going, if they were done with this particular dock, and got the ok. I skipped my camo G-4 under the dock and scored a 3-3 LM with them watching.  That was a fun weekend! We should do it again, huh, Smitty?  

I went back to Isabella once, but didn't find any significant fish. Haven't been back to Mason. Smitty and I went to Nehwatzel once, and I know he's been back since. That's a better looking lake and less likely to be zoo'd up.  I need to go to Spencer and Long....
C&R, Steve

OK, OK, let me restate. That 3 lb LM was the largest I remembered seeing caught in Isabella.  I haven't got the memory Steve has for fishin trips 10 years ago.  Particularly if someone else is catching bigger ones than me!
I do remember us going on up to Mason for the afternoon.  I remember the difficult launch and all the water lice er jet skis.  I also remeber him catching that bass from a dock right after Phil & I cleared it.
Nehwatzel is also an interesting lake, especially in the spring.  I think Doug Booth fishes it fairly regularly.  A few years ago John Holland and I caught quite a few from the shallow end during the spawn. I've seen some big LM cruisers in that pond, but getting them to hit anything was another story.
Smitty