One little known secret about lakes and the whole not getting paid during training thing....It is possible to be paid during training....but there is a catch. You must be hired on to a pilot position from within the company.

i.e. ramper --> pilot, etc. And if I remember correctly, you'll be paid 40hrs/week at whatever your wage was from your non-flying job during training.

There have actually been several guys to go this way, though I can't say whether or not they had that intention from the get-go.