Minnesota · Todd County
Big Swan Lake Fishing guide
Big Swan Lake is a 947-acre lake in Todd County, Minnesota, reaching 45 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 5.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 20 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Present, stocked1.3per trap net21"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 53 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 52 fish
2022Lengths measured · 75 fish
2020Lengths measured · 13 fish
2017Largemouth bassJust a few5.7per hr (electrofishing)17"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2025Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 13 fish
2022Lengths measured · 16 fish
2020Lengths measured · 70 fish
2016Northern pikePresent5.9per trap net20"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 173 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 8 fish
2025Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 165 fish
2022Lengths measured · 106 fish
2020Lengths measured · 266 fish
2017BluegillJust a few12.7per trap net4"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 297 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 215 fish
2025Lengths measured · 82 fish
2022Lengths measured · 87 fish
2020Lengths measured · 1177 fish
2016CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 709 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2025Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 700 fish
2022Lengths measured · 68 fish
2020Lengths measured · 87 fish
2016Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Big Swan Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 45 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 45 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21" | 17" | 22" |
| 2022 | 27" | 19" | 35" |
| 2020 | 26" | 15" | 32" |
| 2017 | 28" | — | 37" |
| 2016 | 29" | 19" | 34" |
| 2015 | 29" | 18" | 35" |
| 2012 | 27" | 19" | 36" |
| 2011 | 25" | 18" | 35" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,430 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 4,310 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2020 | Walleye | 9,816 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 600,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 976 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 400,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 4,136 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Big Swan Lake was conducted on July 14- 16, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program (LBMA) staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 14 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at two stations. Four stations were not seined due to deep water and soft substrate. Nearshore sampling captured 27 species of fish including eight species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Logperch, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA staff. Twelve trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 12 species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass) and two species that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Common Carp and Green Sunfish). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Yellow Bullhead and Common Carp comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Big Swan Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Big Swan Lake is fully supporting aquatic life. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River Brainerd watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Big Swan Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Big Swan Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Big Swan Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Big Swan Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Big Swan Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Long Lake · 399 ac · 1.4 mi
- Bass Lake · 123 ac · 2.1 mi
- Lady Lake · 177 ac · 2.4 mi
- Buck Lake · 61 ac · 2.9 mi
- Moose Lake · 131 ac · 3 mi
- Mons Lake · 95 ac · 3.3 mi
- Twin Lake · 121 ac · 3.3 mi
- Trace Lake · 253 ac · 3.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Big Swan Lake?
Big Swan Lake reaches 45 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 18 ft; about 43% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Big Swan Lake?
Big Swan Lake covers 947 acres with about 7.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Big Swan Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Big Swan Lake average 5.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Big Swan Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Big Swan Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Big Swan Lake have a public access?
Yes. Big Swan Lake has one public access site: Big Swan Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Big Swan Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2011.
When was Big Swan Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Big Swan Lake in 2025, the most recent of 20 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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