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Pymatuning Lake, Pennsylvania & Ohio, USA

Also known as:  Pymatuning Reservoir

Pymatuning Lake, located in northwestern Pennsylvania and spilling over into northeastern Ohio, is a lake of superlatives: Clocking in at 17,088 acres in area, 17 miles in length, and 1.6 miles in width, it is the largest lake in Pennsylvania aside from Lake Erie. Pymatuning Lake is also one of North America’s most important conservation areas, especially for the Common Goldeneye, Canada Goose, and Hooded Merganser. Like…
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    • All About Pymatuning Lake, PA/OH

    Lake Locations: USA - US Mid-Atlantic Region - Pennsylvania - Great Lakes Region, PA - US Midwest Region - Ohio - Northeast Ohio -

    Pymatuning Lake, located in northwestern Pennsylvania and spilling over into northeastern Ohio, is a lake of superlatives: Clocking in at 17,088 acres in area, 17 miles in length, and 1.6 miles in width, it is the largest lake in Pennsylvania aside from Lake Erie.

    Pymatuning Lake is also one of North America’s most important conservation areas, especially for the Common Goldeneye, Canada Goose, and Hooded Merganser. Like many North American lakes, Pymatuning is a man-made reservoir. Completed in 1934, its average depth is about 15 feet, with a maximum depth of about 35 feet. Its shoreline measures 70 miles.

    Two ducks float on Lake Pymatuning at sunset
    Courtesy of Denys Khrulov

    Things to do at Pymatuning Lake

    With nearly 2.5 million annual visitors, Pymatuning State Park, within which the lake is located, boasts more visitors per year than almost any other park in the state. All these superlatives add up to one thing: great fun for you and your family.

    Pymatuning Lake is famous for its four-season offerings. Beginning in the warm summer months, water sports opportunities abound. Boating is one of the most popular, although visitors should be aware that there is a 20 horsepower limit imposed on all motorboats.

    There are three boat marinas on the lake – Jamestown Marina, Espyville Marina and Linesville Marina; all offer rental boats, fishing gear, and places to moor your boat. Six beaches and seemingly endless acres of cool, sparkling waters lure thousands of swimmers every year.

    Fill your afternoon with a power swim, a lazy dip, or spend hours floating on a raft in the calm waters. Catch some rays in the sand and observe children building sand castles around you. No matter what you do, you’ll leave the water and beach feeling relaxed and refreshed.

    Geese float by the Spillway at Pymatuning Lake
    Petropoxy (Lithoderm Proxy), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Fishing is another popular Pymatuning activity: the Pennsylvania State Park’s Fish and Boat Commission operates one of the largest warm-water hatcheries in the world. The lake is well-stocked, so bring your pole (or rent one) and get set to catch walleye, crappie, muskellunge, bluegill, perch, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass. And don’t let the seasons stop you: summer fishing and winter ice fishing are both allowed and enjoyed on this Pennsylvania lake.

    One of the most unique sights at Pymatuning Lake is Linesville Spillway, where “the ducks walk on the fish.” Each year, an estimated 300,000 visitors come to the lake to feed the carp and the ducks thousands of loaves of bread each week. The carp, in their mad scurry to capture as many morsels as possible, are so thick in the water that the ducks, in competition for the bread, are able to walk the lake on the backs of the fish. This is truly a must-see, must-do event!

    If you choose to visit the area during the cold winter months, you’ll be greeted with white vistas and myriad snow-based activities. Cross-country skiing is an ever-popular activity, as Pymatuning State Park’s walking and biking trails are covered with powder and readied for your skis. Another exhilarating option is to tackle the five miles of snowmobiling trails at the abandoned railroad grade near Tuttle Campground.

    Fun for the whole family can be found on the sledding hills near the dam at Jamestown, or simply in the creation of snow angels and snowmen. No matter what you do there, you’ll enjoy your stay at Pymatuning Lake.

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    Things to Do at Pymatuning Lake

    These are some activities in the Pymatuning Lake, PA/OH area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • State Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Pymatuning Lake?

    Pymatuning Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Carp
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Muskellunge
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Pymatuning Lake

    If you’re considering a Pymatuning Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Pymatuning Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Pymatuning Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Pymatuning Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Pennsylvania Game Commission

    Surface Area: 17,088 acres

    Shoreline Length: 70 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,010 feet

    Average Depth: 15 feet

    Maximum Depth: 35 feet

    Water Volume: 188,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1934

    Drainage Area: 1,065 sq. miles

    Pymatuning Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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