Conneaut Lake "Over 200 years of history"

By Walt Poff  

The town of Conneaut Lake started out as Evansburg back in 1796 when a blacksmith by the name of Abner Evans settled on the southern shore of what is now Conneaut Lake. The village of Evansburg was laid out on the Evans farmland by Evans in 1798. Other settlers soon followed, most of which were farmers. 

With thick woods and no roads, water travel was the best way to travel into western Pennsylvania in the early years. The major waterways used were the Allegheny River, French Creek, the Monongahela River, the Ohio River, Beaver River and later the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal was started in 1817 and completed in 1825. The canal was 360 miles long and had 82 locks. The canal made the transportation of goods easier and more economical throughout western Pennsylvania. You could travel from New Orleans to New York by inland waterways. Needless to say, this opened the world markets up those living in western Pennsylvania. During the peak of the canal period there were nearly 5,000 canal boats operating between Pittsburgh and Erie. In the late 1820’s the water level in Conneaut Lake was raised about 10 feet higher than it is today in order to provide water for the canal. The Raising of Conneaut Lake by 10 feet greatly increased it’s size to the west and north. There were large bays formed along the east side of Conneaut Lake, where there are valleys today. Wolf Island is now the end of a peninsula, but back then it was an Island and there was another Island a little further west that is now mainland. 

In the 1860’s the railroads started to make their appearance in the area and this newer, better, more reliable form of transportation was soon to replace the waterways as a primary source of transportation. By the 1870’s, canal traffic had ceased altogether. About the same time that the railroads were making their appearance in western Pennsylvania, steamboats were making their preview on Conneaut Lake. The first one on the scene was the “Wanderer” owned by Enoch Bartell and many others were soon to follow.  Up to this point in time Conneaut Lake was visited primarily by fisherman, hunters and campers. Now it was becoming popular with vacationers and tourists. 

The Exposition Company formed in 1892 with intentions of starting an exposition park at Conneaut Lake. Construction began that same spring and in August, with all the popularity generated by the Exposition Park at Conneaut Lake it was inevitable that the town carry the same name. In December of 1892, Evansburg officially became the town of Conneaut Lake.

Conneaut Lake has since become a favorite western Pennsylvania vacation spot, especially among those who enjoy water sports. Conneaut Lake is Pennsylvania's largest natural lake and has an unlimited horsepower rating making it an ideal vacation destination for those who enjoy power boating, water skiing and tubing. Jet Skis are also popular at Conneaut Lake. There are several campgrounds, cottages, a host of motels and many excellent dining establishments available to make your stay in the Lakeland area more enjoyable.

Conneaut Lake is located in western Pennsylvania about 30 miles south of Erie and only 6 miles east of Pymatuning Lake. While you're at Conneaut Lake you will want to take a short drive over to nearby Pymatuning Lake and see the many sites offered there. The Linesville Fish Hatchery, Game Commission Visitor Center and the Spillway "Where the Ducks walk on the Fish" are all within a few miles of each other and within a short drive of Conneaut Lake.

Fishing

You can expect to catch Walleye, Bass, Crappie, Muskellunge and Northern Pike at Conneaut Lake. Conneaut Lake holds the Pennsylvania state record for Muskellunge, weighing in at 54 lb. 3 oz., caught back in 1924 by Lewis Walker Jr. of Meadville, PA.

Being a popular recreational lake, you may want to plan your fishing trips for early in the morning and on weekdays to avoid the water skiers, jet skiers and pleasure boaters. Nearby Pymatuning Lake also offers excellent fishing opportunities as well, without all the water-sport activities.