Big Swan Lake

How big is Big Swan Lake?

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

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Are there boat launches on Big Swan Lake?

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What are the fishing regulations for Big Swan Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Big Swan Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

An ice-out trap net assessment targeting Northern Pike was performed on Big Swan Lake from April 12 to April 30 of 2022. Experimental/Special fishing regulations for Northern Pike have been in place on the lake since 1997, consisting of a 24 inch maximum size from 1997-2008, and a 24-36 inch protected slot from 2008-present. The bag limit was increased to 6 fish in 2013. Only one pike over 36 inches is allowed. The purpose of this trap net survey was to evaluate changes to the pike size structure since the regulations were enacted.

Many of the fish captured during this survey were taken in nets set at mouth of the inlet from Long Lake. Two trap nets are set at this site essentially blocking fish from travel up the inlet. Eight nets were also set at sites throughout the lake basin. The lake nets were set in ice-free locations and produced light catches of pike, presumably due to the late ice-out. All Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie were measured.

A total of 165 Northern Pike were netted in the 2022 ice-out assessment. Similar ice-out efforts were conducted during 14 separate years from 1993 to 2017 producing sample sizes of 61 to 549 fish (mean=295). The total number sampled is not a good indicator of population level due to variability in both effort and spring weather. The catch in 2022 was characterized by 24% of the fish exceeding 24 inches and only 6 fish (3.6%) over 30 inches were observed. Mean length was 22 inches. Management goals aim for at least 30% of ice-out pike to exceed 24 inches and 15% of female pike to exceed 30 inches. Only 7.2% of female pike were longer than 30 inches in 2022 ice-out nets. The 2022 data provides further evidence that little change in pike size structure has occurred since 2007. In the 7 ice-out assessments since 2007 the percentage of pike over 24 inches has ranged from 16-28% with a mean of 23.6%. In the same time period the proportion of fish over 30 inches has ranged from 2.5-7% with a mean of 4.5%. While the percentage of fish greater than 24 inches has been generally higher since enactment of the regulation, the prevalence of fish over 30 inches has not shown sustained improvement. The largest pike sampled in 2022 was 35.8 inches and fish 34 inches or larger had been netted in all assessments since 2001. No pike larger than 34 inches were observed prior to 2001 in ice-out efforts.

A gill net survey completed in 2020 showed a similar percentage (4%) of pike over 30 inches and 19% longer than 24 inches. Assuming gill net catch rates represent pike densities, pike numbers in Big Swan Lake continue to show high variation but almost always remaining above what is considered normal for similar lakes. Lowered pike numbers have not been maintained and suggest limited long-term impacts of cannibalism of small pike by large pike.

Walleye were not the target species for this assessment, however 52 Walleye were observed in 2022. Walleye ranged from 16.1 to 27.2 inches. The 2015 and 2017 ice-out trap nets which also did not target Walleye, caught 4 and 13 fish, respectively. Past ice-out catches have ranged from 4 to 107 fish (mean=38).
The lake sets in 2022 collected 81 Bluegills ranging from 3.3 to 9.1 inches in length with 20% exceeding 7 inches. A large number (1,010) of Bluegills was sampled in the 2015 ice-out and the catch was dominated by small fish. Less than 3% exceeded 7 inches and no 8 inch fish were captured.

Ice-out trap net catches of Black Crappie are often highly variable due to abiotic factors and do not usually reflect changes in abundance. Catches have ranged from 18-699 fish since 1993 with a mean of 150 crappies. Trap nets provided the largest sample ever of Black Crappie (699 fish) in 2022. Ice-out data is most useful in assessing crappie size structure. In 2022 crappie ranged from 4.7 to 12.8 inches long with 10.4% greater than 10 inches. Mean size was 8.3 inches. Management goals call for at least 30% of the ice-out sample to be over 10 inches and 13 inch fish to be present. A total of 208 crappies were collected in 2015 trap nets ranging in length from 4.1 to 13.2 inches. Only 2% exceeded 10 inches and mean size was 8.3 inches.

Thirteen (13) Largemouth Bass ranging from 14.1 to 19.3 inches were measured during the 2022 ice-out assessment. Mean length was 17.3 inches. Bowfin were relatively common with the trap nets producing 70 fish. Smaller numbers of Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker and bullheads were noted. Only 1 Yellow Perch was observed.

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