Little Swan Lake

How big is Little Swan Lake?

How deep is Little Swan Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Little Swan Lake?

What are the closest cities to Little Swan Lake?

Are there boat launches on Little Swan Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Little Swan Lake?

A resurvey was conducted at Little Swan Lake in 2013 to monitor the Lake's chemical, physical, and biological characteristics. The current Lake Management Plan listed Northern Pike and Black Crappie as primary management species while Bluegill and Largemouth Bass were listed as a secondary species. Water clarity was poor on June 3rd, with a secchi disk reading of 2.1 feet. Little Swan's lakeshed (328 acres) was dominated (59%) by pasture. Approximately 62% of the shoreline was developed with private homes and lawns. Coontail was the only submergent vegetation that was ranked as abundant. Yellow water lilies were common on Little Swan. The aquatic plant community was of a moderate diversity and better than many other area lakes. The maximum depth at which submergent vegetation was found was 14.1 feet. For shoalwater substrates, sand was common. Most of the shoreline that could be developed was, with 33 homes/cabins being counted.

Walleye were not gill netted in 2013, but 1 was sampled in a trap net and that fish was 24.1 inches long. Walleye were last stocked in 1997 and a substantial fishery has not existed since the late 1990's.

Gill nets sampled 43 Northern Pike for a catch rate of 7.2/net, which was within the normal range for a lake of this type. The 2013 catch rate was the second highest on record for Little Swan Lake. The last three catch rates indicated a slightly increasing trend in abundance for Northern Pike. Catch rates from 1975 to 2013 (n=8) ranged from 1.3 to 9.8/net with an average of 4.1. In 2013, gill netted Northern Pike were 20.1 to 34.1 inches long with an averge of 24.7. An impressive 16% (7 fish) of the gill net sample was 30 inches or longer. Trap nets sampled five fish that were 29" or longer, with a maximum length of 35.9 inches. Numbers, size distribution, and maximum lengths indicated that a quality population was present. Northern Pike were age-2 through age-11 with 8 year-classes present. Age-2 through age-5 fish were well represented, accounting for 91% of the gill net sample.

Gill nets sampled 95 Yellow Perch for a catch rate of 15.8/net, which was above the normal range for this type of lake. Catch rates from 1975 to 2013 (n=8) were highly variable ranging from 0.0 to 155.5/net with an average of 31.4. Gill netted Yellow Perch were 5.4 to 7.4 inches long with an average of 6.1. Yellow Perch are likely an important forage item for predatory fish at Little Swan.

Gill nets sampled 285 Black Crappie for a catch rate of 47.5/net, which was above the normal range for a lake of this type. Black Crappie were the most abundant fish sampled by the gill nets in 2013. The 2003 catch rate was 1.8/net. Gill net catch rates from 1975 to 2013 (n=8) were variable, ranging from 1.8 to 47.5/net with an average of 15.1. In 2013, gill netted Black Crappie were 4.3 to 8.4 inches long with an average of 5.5. Trap nets sampled 60 Black Crappie for a catch rate of 6.7/net, which was within the normal range. The 2003 trap net catch rate was similar at 5.3/net. Trap net catch rates from 1975 to 2013 (n=8) were variable, ranging from 1.7 to 29.4/net with an average of 10.5. Trap netted Black Crappie were 4.5 to 12.99 inches long with an average of 8.5. Approximately 40% of the trap net sample was 9 inches or longer. Size distributions indicated that a quality population was present in 2013.

Trap nets sampled 417 Bluegill for a catch rate of 46.3/net, which was within the normal range for a lake of this type. Bluegill were the most abundant fish sampled in the trap nets. The 2003 catch rate was similar at 32.8/net. Catch rates from 1975 to 2013 (n=8) were mostly moderate in size, ranging from 16.5 to 69.7/net with an average of 39.4. In 2013, trap netted Bluegill were 3.1 to 7.3 inches long with an average of 5.6. Approximately 3% of the trap net catch was 7 inches or longer, while 42% were 6 inches or longer.

Spring night-time electrofishing sampled 60 Largemouth Bass for a catch rate of 72.0/hr of electrofisher on-time, which was the highest ever measured at Little Swan Lake. The catch rate in 2009 was similar at 59.9/hr. The three most recent catch rates indicated an increasing trend in abundance of Largemouth Bass at Little Swan Lake. Catch rates from 1993 to 2013 (n=6) were somewhat similar, ranging from 34.7 to 72.0/hr of electrofisher on-time with an average of 50.8. Electrofished Largemouth Bass were 5.7 to 21.3 inches long with an average of 13.2. Approximately 45% of the catch was 15 inches or longer. The length frequency distribution and good numbers of fish indicated that a high quality population was present. Largemouth Bass were age-2 through age-16 with 11 year-classes being present. Growth was moderate.

Gill nets sampled 24 Black Bullhead in 2013 for a catch rate of 4.0/net, which was below the normal range for a lake of this type. Catch rates from 1975 to 2013 (n=8) were mostly low, ranging from 1.5 to 22.0/net with an average of 9.8. Gill netted Black Bullhead were 4.9 to 13.4 inches long with an average of 9.3. Black Bullhead were not sampled in the trap nets in 2013. Trap net catch rates from 1975 to 2013 were mostly low ranging from 0.0 to 17.6/net with an average of 2.9.

Carp were not sampled in 2013.

What is the average air temp for Little Swan Lake?