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Swan Lake

General Information

County: Dickinson
Location: 2m N Superior
Acres: 371.00
Maximum Depth:
Motoring Restrictions:

Nearby Parks

Mini-Wakan State Park
Marble Beach State Recreation Area
Elinor Bedell State Park
Fort Defiance State Park
Templar State Recreation Area

Amenities

Amenities at Swan Lake include:
    No recent updates

    You can zoom in on the map for bathymetric information for some lakes

    • April 2022 - 130,987 Northern Pike (Fry)
    • 6/3/22 - 1,902 Northern Pike (1.8)
    • 6/24/22 - 26,155 Yellow Perch (1.5)
    • 10/6/22 - 64,755 Bluegill (3)
    • 06/28/2021 - 3,778 Largemouth Bass (1.6)
        No known aquatic invasive species have been found
    The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

    • Bigmouth Buffalo
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Black Bullhead
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Black Crappie
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: No daily limit on private waters
    • Bluegill
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: No daily limit on private waters
    • Channel Catfish
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
      • Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: Except for border lakes
    • Common Carp
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
    • Green Sunfish
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Northern Pike
      • Season: Continuous, except for boundary lakes
      • Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
      • Possession Limit: 6 fish
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: Except for border lakes
    • Quillback
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
    • Walleye
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 5 fish
      • Possession Limit: combined walleye, sauger and saugeye; 10 fish
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • White Sucker
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: none
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
    • Yellow Bullhead
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
      • Possession Limit: unlimited
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    • Yellow Perch
      • Season: Continuous
      • Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
      • Possession Limit: 50 fish
      • Length Limit: none
      • Other:
    Spring 2010 D.C. Electrofishing Assessment – A comprehensive survey was scheduled for the 2010 field season at Little Swan Lake. Spring D.C. electrofishing, a component of a comprehensive survey, was conducted on June 1st to assess the subadult and adult fish populations of Little Swan Lake. Results of the spring D.C. electrofishing survey show a catch dominated by carp and bullheads. Ninety three percent of the catch was carp and bullheads, representing 55 and 38 percent of the total catch. Yellow perch was the only game fish sampled in limited numbers (n=3) during the 2010 D.C. electrofishing assessment. 2010 Tandem Hoop Net Assessment- Tandem hoop net assessment, the second component of the comprehensive survey, was conducted in late July to assess the subadult and adult channel catfish population of Little Swan Lake. A catch rate of 5 fish per series show a population estimate of less then one fish per acre, suggesting limited numbers of this species in Little Swan Lake. Length frequency analysis show a fish population of stock (11- to 15.9-inch) and quality (16- to 23.9-inch) size fish at 19 and 81 percent. Relative weight (Wr), an indice of body condition was 85, which are below the target range of 95 – 105 showing a fish population in less the desirable body condition. Black bullheads (n = 271) and carp (n = 131) were also sampled in considerable numbers during the 2010 tandem hoop net survey. Fall 2010 Fyke Net Assessment - Fall fyke netting, the last sampling technique of the 2010 comprehensive survey was conducted in late September to assess the subadult and adult fish populations of Little Swan Lake. A total of 66 channel catfish were sampled during the 2010 fall fyke net assessment, showing a catch rate of 8 fish per net, which is the highest catch rate recorded since fall fyke netting started in 1996. Length frequency analysis show a catfish population dominated by stock (11- to 15.9-inch) and quality (16- to 23.9-inch) size fish at 16 and 78 percent. Preferred (> 24.0 inches) size fish comprised the remaining 4 percent of the channel catfish sample. A channel catfish relative weight of 90 is slightly below the 95 – 105 target range showing fish in fairly good body condition; however, an overall improvement of the channel catfish relative weight is noted from the summer, 2010 tandem hoop net assessment (85). Yellow perch were also sampled during the 2010 fall fyke net assessment. A yellow perch catch rate of 7 fish per net was comparable to the lakes median value of 6 fish per net, showing a typical yellow perch population in Little Swan Lake. Catch rates were lower, but comparable to the Spirit Lake median value of 16 fish per net, suggesting a yellow perch population at less then typical numbers of other yellow perch lakes within the Spirit Lake District. A relative weight of 94 is slightly less then the target range of 95 – 105 suggesting a yellow perch population in fairly good body condition. Black crappie were also sampled in low numbers (n = 1) during the 2010 fall fyke net assessment suggesting a limited population of this speces in Little Swan Lake. Rough fish comprised of buffalo, carp, white sucker and quillback represented 14 percent of the total 2010 fall fyke net catch. Carp dominated the rough fish catch at 9 percent of the total catch; however, carp catch rates were about two times lower then the lakes median value of 9 fish per haul. (2010)
    Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.

    Contacts

    Iowa-Caught Fish Are Safe to Eat, In Almost All Cases

    The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.