Sturgeon Lake:
This lake has not one, but 3 major towns located on its banks. Fenelon Falls is located at the top of the northwestern arm; Bobcaygeon the top of the northeastern arm, with Lindsay to the south Located in the Kawartha lakes region of Ontario, Canada. It is a part of the Trent-Severn Waterway. The lake is Y shaped and has the communities of Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, Sturgeon Point and Bobcaygeon at the north-west,south and north-east points of the Y respectively. The lake is approximately 25 km (16 miles) from the southern to the north-eastern extremes, the longer axis.
Inflow and Outflow
The Scugog River flows into the lake at the southern apex. Cameron Lake also flows into this lake, via the Fenelon River at the north-western extreme. Emily Creek empties into the lake at the middle south.
The outflow is through the Big Bob and Little Bob channels of the Bobcaygeon River at the north-east of the lake.
Fish species
Game fish species include Trout, Muskie, Brown Bullhead, Carp, Rock Bass, black crappie, Sunfish, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Perch and Pickerel.
Kawartha Conservation Info for Sturgeon Lake
http://www.kawarthaconservation.com/sturgeonlake/earlyactions.html
Sturgeon Lake Map East End of Lake and West End of Lake
STEAMSHIPS AND HOTELS ON STURGEON LAKE
source for text and photos: Scugog Heritage
In 1875, [shipbuilder George Crandell] … decided to drum up business by building a summer hotel at Sturgeon Point. He launched a stock company to finance the venture. Crandell’s previous economic record was beyond reproach. In spite of the severe economic conditions, Crandell had little difficulty in raising the necessary capital.
He purchased a 100 acre property at Sturgeon Point. A hundred yards from the water’s edge, in the middle of a stand of trees, he built a stately 40 roomed three storey frame palace with a two storey verandah running around three sides and an elegant mansard roof. It was officially opened on June 15, 1876. Later the hotel complex was expanded to include a dance hall, shuffle board courts and bath houses.
Crandell’s Sturgeon Point Hotel in 1876
Crandell’s Sturgeon Point Hotel was extremely popular for picnics, dances and, of course, boating regattas. Prospects improved further when the closet rival hotel, the Couchiching Hotel near Orillia burned down.
As with all of Crandell’s previous ventures the Sturgeon Point Hotel was a phenomenal success. Boating regattas of various types were held regularly. On one occasion in 1878, special trains ran from Port Hope and Toronto, bringing 2,000 to Lindsay. They were then taken by boat to the hotel. An Oddfellow’s excursion in 1881 drew 3,000 visitors. This occasion was climaxed by the production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s new operetta, Pirates of Penzance.
Boyed by the success of the Sturgeon Point Hotel, he built another hotel at Fenelon Falls, but it burned to the ground in 1884.
Crandell sold the Sturgeon Point Hotel after seven seasons to J. “Ebe” Dunham of Cobourg, but, ever the canny businessman,. Crandell kept much of the waterfront acreage which he sold off as lots to the wealthy.