Minnesota · Todd County
Little Swan Lake Fishing guide
Little Swan Lake sits in Todd County, Minnesota, and covers 164 acres, reaching 67 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeJust a few0.5per gill net21"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 12 fish
2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2017Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2016Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2012Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassFair numbers32.4per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 288 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 288 fish
2025Lengths measured · 67 fish
2017Lengths measured · 8 fish
2016Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 4 fish
2012Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassJust a few2.3per hr (electrofishing)16"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Northern pikeFair numbers6.5per gill net17"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 72 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 72 fish
2025Lengths measured · 92 fish
2017Lengths measured · 94 fish
2016Lengths measured · 44 fish
2012BluegillJust a few9per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 318 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 318 fish
2025Lengths measured · 577 fish
2017Lengths measured · 623 fish
2016Lengths measured · 294 fish
2012CrappieJust a few1.2per trap net10"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 97 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 97 fish
2025Lengths measured · 97 fish
2017Lengths measured · 74 fish
2016Lengths measured · 34 fish
2012Yellow perchPresent28.4per seine haul6"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 23 fish
2025Lengths measured · 1 fish
2017Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2012Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2000Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates 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 Little Swan Lake through the year
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 67 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 67 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19" | 28" | 25" |
| 2017 | 20" | 35" | 17" |
| 2016 | 18" | 32" | 28" |
| 2012 | 17" | 30" | 25" |
| 2006 | 14" | 30" | 21" |
| 2000 | 18" | 33" | 23" |
| 1994 | 13" | 32" | 22" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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
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
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Little Swan Lake (DOW# 77-0034-00; Lake Class 23) is a 164-acre lake that is located 3 miles northwest of Swanville. The maximum depth is 67 feet (average = 25 feet), and water clarity is around 8 feet. A public access is located on the east side of the lake. Little Swan is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Bluegill and secondarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie. A standard survey was conducted during 2025 and included electrofishing, gill netting, spring trap netting, summer trap netting, and angling. A population estimate of adult bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth combined) was completed using data from electrofishing, trap netting, and angling.
It was estimated that there were approximately 563 Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in Little Swan during 2025. However, the population could be as low as 444 or as high as 771 when accounting for variation among samples. Sampling was targeted towards the adult population, which included fish over 10 inches. Smaller fish were excluded from the estimate because their survival and catch rates can differ from those of adults, which can lead to biased results. Adult Largemouth Bass ranged in size from 9.9-19.7 inches (average = 14.9 inches) while adult Smallmouth Bass measured 11.9-17.6 inches (average = 15.8 inches). Smallmouth Bass were a relatively recent addition to the fishery and resulted from the modification of an outlet structure that allowed for riverine fish passage.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike had a catch rate of 6.5 fish/net (total = 39), which fell within the normal range for this lake class. The size range of fish captured was 12.6-28.1 inches (average = 19.3 inches) with 11% over 24 inches. The current size structure is below what would be preferred for this population. The goal for Little Swan is to maintain at least 30% over 24 inches and 3% over 30 inches. The number of fish over 30 inches has gradually declined over the last 30 years with 2025 being the first year without any sampled.
Bluegill were caught at a rate of 7.8 fish/net (total = 234) while spring trap netting. The size range of fish was 2.6-9.4 inches (average = 5.9 inches) with 34% over 7 inches, 11% over 8 inches, and 1% over 9 inches. This surpassed the goal of maintaining a population with at least 25% over 7 inches. The maximum length of 9.4 inches during this survey was a new record for spring trap netting on Little Swan. The proportion of fish measuring 8 inches or greater has continued to increase since 2016. There was an increase in smaller fish during the current survey, but this is not of concern unless growth rates decline. Growth was not assessed during 2025, but prior data have shown that Bluegill have average growth in Little Swan.
A total of 84 Black Crappie were captured while spring trap netting (average = 0.8 fish/set; total = 24) and electrofishing (average = 10.4 fish/hour; total = 60). The goal of maintaining at least 50% of the catch over 9 inches was achieved during 2025. Black Crappie in Little Swan show average growth, with fish averaging 7.8 inches by age-3, 9.8 inches by age-4, and 10.6 inches by age-5.
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Little Swan Lake on July 28th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Tullibee require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 49.9 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 12.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 12.6 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 0.6 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Tullibee was present but marginal. Tullibee have frequently been absent during gill netting surveys and were last captured in 2017.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Swan Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little 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
- Little Swan Lake (trailer launch)
- Little Swan Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Little Swan Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Mons Lake · 95 ac · 0.8 mi
- Bass Lake · 123 ac · 2 mi
- Pepin Lake · 54 ac · 2.6 mi
- Moose Lake · 131 ac · 2.9 mi
- Long Lake · 399 ac · 3.3 mi
- Big Swan Lake · 947 ac · 4.1 mi
- Buck Lake · 61 ac · 4.3 mi
- Beauty Lake · 240 ac · 5.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Swan Lake?
Little Swan Lake reaches 67 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 25 ft; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Swan Lake?
Little Swan Lake covers 164 acres with about 2.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Swan Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Swan Lake average 9.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Swan Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Swan Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Little Swan Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Little Swan Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Swan Lake has 2 public access sites, including Little Swan Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Little Swan Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Little Swan Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Swan Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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