Little Swan Lake

How big is Little Swan Lake?

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

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Are there boat launches on Little Swan Lake?

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

Little Swan is a small lake (51 acres) located north of the City of Dassel in Meeker County. A state-owned access with limited parking and a single cement boat ramp is present on the west shore. Little Swan has approximately one mile of shoreline and a maximum depth of thirty-one feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Little Swan is a class 30 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Little Mud and Dunns Lakes in Meeker County. Little Swan's 2014 lake management plan listed Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass as primary management species. Gill nets were set in 2023 to monitor the fish population.

Moderate numbers of Northern Pike were netted with fish averaging 27.7 inches in length. Approximately 70% of pike netted were 26 inches or longer. Northern Pike regulations were revised at a statewide level beginning in 2018 to better accommodate regional differences in pike habitats, population abundances and size structures. Three management zones were established for Northern Pike, with their own bag limit and length limit restrictions. In the north-central zone, where Little Swan is found, anglers can keep up to ten Northern Pike, but no more than two fish can be longer than 26 inches; and all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be immediately released. Darkhouse spear fishermen are allowed to have one pike within the protected slot limit in their possession. This zone regulation is meant to reduce small pike abundance by shifting population size structure back to more medium and large sized pike.

Moderate numbers of Black Crappie were netted in 2023, with fish averaging 7 inches in length. Only 1% of the gill net catch was 9 inches or longer. The longest Black Crappie sampled in the summer gill nets was 9.5 inches. Low numbers of Yellow Perch were netted and most were small. Average length was 6.5 inches, and the longest perch sampled was 7.9 inches. Perch play an important role as forage in this lake. Walleye were not sampled in 2023 or in the previous survey's (2013) gill nets, and are possibly no longer present at Little Swan Lake. Walleye were last stocked in 1997. Low numbers of Bluegill were netted, but that species typically does not sample well in gill nets. Average length was 5.9 inches and maximum length was 7.1 inches. Very low numbers of Largemouth Bass were netted, but that species typically does not sample well in gill nets. Largemouth Bass were 9 and 15 inches long. Additional fishes sampled in the gill nets included Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed and Yellow Bullhead.

People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

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