Conneaut Lake Fishing
A 929-acre Pennsylvania lake in Crawford County.
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A short guide to Conneaut Lake
The Fish and Boat Commission lists Conneaut Lake at 929 acres; it sits in Crawford County. Conneaut Lake, about 1 mile out, makes the nearest town. Water leaves it for Conneaut Outlet. It falls in the PFBC Northwest Region.
PFBC names bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, northern pike and rock bass for it. Trailers go in at 2 access areas with ramps. It is enrolled in Brood Stock Lake. The Commission lists it among its Best Fishing Waters.
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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Each chip marks a fish PFBC connects with Conneaut Lake.
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Ramps that put boats on Conneaut Lake
- Conneaut Lake Accesspaved ramp, 54 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower; owner PFBC
- Fireman's Beach Accesspaved ramp, 30 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner Conneaut Lake Boro
Bank and pier access, Conneaut Lake
- N 1st St Boat launch fishing access, Sadsburyshore or carry-in access
Other access areas near Conneaut Lake
- Duck Farm AccessGeneva Marsh, 4 miles southeast
- Cussewago AccessCussewago Creek, 7 miles east
- Wells – SGL 213 AccessGeneva Marsh, 7 miles southeast
- Bennetts Bay AccessPymatuning Reservoir, 7 miles west
- Bicentennial ParkFrench Creek, 7 miles east
- Fries Road AccessPymatuning Reservoir, 8 miles west
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Creel counts and minimum sizes at Conneaut Lake
| Species | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30) | 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches | June 13 through Sept. 30 |
| Bass (Jan. 1 to April 10, Oct. 1 to Dec. 31) | 4 (combined species); minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through April 10 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 |
| Bass (April 11 to June 12) | NO HARVEST – catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted) | April 11 through June 12 (no harvest begins 12:01 a.m.) |
| Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge | 1 (combined species); minimum 40 inches | Open year-round |
| Northern pike | 2; minimum 24 inches | Open year-round |
| Chain pickerel | 4; minimum 18 inches | Open year-round |
| Walleye and saugeye | 6; minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 2 through Dec. 31 |
| Sunfish, crappie and other panfish | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Catfish | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Striped bass and hybrids | 2 (combined species); minimum 20 inches | Open year-round |
| American shad | 3 | Open year-round |
Conneaut Lake follows the inland table of the Summary, plus any program rule listed here.
Special rules at Conneaut Lake
| Program | Rule | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Brood Stock Lake | April 1 through May 31: muskellunge, tiger muskellunge, northern pike and pickerel catch and release only; other species follow inland rules. | p. 15 |
Rules unique to Conneaut Lake
- Brood Stock Lakes Program (Summary page)
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Heaviest Pennsylvania fish from Conneaut Lake
| Species | Weight | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 54 lb. 3 oz. | Lewis Walker, Jr. | 1924 |
| Bass, White | 4 lb. 0 oz. | Robert H. Hornstrom | 2002 |
PFBC State Record Fish page, retrieved October 23, 2026. All Pennsylvania records.
Management reports on Conneaut Lake
- Spring 2025 Trap Net and Night Boat Electrofishing Surveys2025
- Spring 2019 Muskellunge Trap Net Survey2019
- Spring 2012 Trap Net and Electrofishing Survey2013
- Spring Trapnet and Electrofishing Survey2008
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Nearby lakes and Conneaut Lake, side by side
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conneaut Lake | 929 | 2 | 11 | ||
| Mud Lake | 6 miles southwest | 16 | 0 | 2 | |
| Pymatuning Sanctuary | 6 miles west | 0 | 0 | ||
| Pymatuning Reservoir | 10 miles west | 13,920 | 16 | 10 | |
| Tamarack Lake, Crawford County | 11 miles east | 562 | 5 | 6 | |
| Woodcock Creek Lake | 12 miles northeast | 325 | 1 | 8 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Around Conneaut Lake
Reservoirs and lakes close to Conneaut Lake
- Mud Lake6 miles southwest
- Pymatuning Sanctuary6 miles west
- Pymatuning Reservoir10 miles west
- Tamarack Lake, Crawford County11 miles east
- Woodcock Creek Lake12 miles northeast
Where Conneaut Lake anglers stock up
- Bill's Midway Marinamarina, Conneaut Lake, under a mile
- Nye's Marinamarina, Conneaut Lake, 1 mile
- Linesville Marinamarina, Linesville, 8 miles
- Gillette's Bait & Tackle Rt 8 Marinebait and tackle shop, Linesville, 9 miles
- Robinson'sbait and tackle shop, Linesville, 10 miles
- Allans Outboard Repaimarina, Linesville, 10 miles
Hire a guide for Conneaut Lake
- Bayle Out Sportfishingcharter, Erie, (814) 840-1145
- Dutch Fork Fishing Charterscharter, Girard, (724) 230-6233
- Something Catchy Charterscharter, East Springfield, (814) 460-4600
- Tell No Tales Charters Llccharter, Erie, (814) 746-5809
Overnight bases around Conneaut Lake
- Meadville8 miles
- Cochranton15 miles
- Greenville16 miles
Conneaut Lake by county
- Crawford Countyseat: Meadville
Piscifun reels to bring along to Conneaut Lake
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A photo guide to fish at Conneaut Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Before you go to Conneaut Lake: common questions
Where in Pennsylvania is Conneaut Lake?
You will find it in Crawford County, PFBC Northwest Region, about 1 mile from Conneaut Lake.
How large is Conneaut Lake by PFBC count?
Roughly 929 acres.
Which access area serves Conneaut Lake?
There are 2 ramp access areas; Conneaut Lake Access is the largest.
Does Conneaut Lake hold bass and panfish?
PFBC lists bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, northern pike, rock bass and smallmouth bass.
Does Conneaut Lake have special regulations?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30. The Brood Stock Lake listing changes some limits.
Which Pennsylvania license and permit fit Conneaut Lake?
Anyone 16 or older needs a Pennsylvania fishing license: $27.97 for residents, $60.97 for nonresidents and $14.47 for resident seniors, fees included.
When does PFBC stock Conneaut Lake?
Not on the 2026 schedule.
Who sells minnows on the way to Conneaut Lake?
Drive under a mile to Bill's Midway Marina.
Has a state record come from Conneaut Lake?
Muskellunge, 54 lb. 3 oz., by Lewis Walker, Jr. in 1924.
Spend an evening casting Conneaut Lake
Check the Summary rows before a fish goes on the stringer.