Swan

Swan Lake is a 2,472-acre lake located on the south side of Pengilly, MN. There is one public access and the shoreline is highly developed with almost 500 homes/cabins. The lake management plan lists Walleye and Northern Pike as the primary species of management. In 2005, a 17-to 26-inch protected slot length limit with only one Walleye over 26 inches in possession was implemented. In 2020, the Walleye regulation was modified to 20 to 24 inch protected slot length limit with only one fish over 24 inches in possession to better align with other area lakes. The 2025 standard survey was conducted to help evaluate management activities, including the special Walleye regulation and current stocking strategy. A noticeable expansion of the Bluegill population has occurred in Swan Lake in recent surveys. Trap nets are effective at sampling Bluegill during the spring and early summer but Bluegill, particularly larger fish, often move offshore during the summer resulting in lower trap net catches. In 2025, gill nets captured Bluegill throughout the lake for the first time. Bluegill ranged from 3.4 to 10.3 inches and averaged 7.1 inches. Roughly 40% of the sampled fish were 8 inches or longer. Nine age-classes were documented with fish ranging from age 2 to 12. Growth was fast compared to other lakes with similar habitat and Bluegill averaged 8.0 inches after six years. Northern Pike gill-net catches were low from 1948 through 1975 but have been above average in all but one survey since. In the last five surveys, catches exceeded the management goal of 5.0 fish/net and was 7.3 fish/net in 2025. Higher catches are not desirable because they often result in slower growth and poor size quality for pike. In 2025, pike ranged from 17.0 to 30.3 inches and averaged 22.3 inches. The size structure goals were not achieved. Fish from age 2 to 8 were documented with the 2022 year-class representing 61% of the sample. Pike growth was similar to statewide averages with fish averaging 22.8 inches after four years. Smallmouth Bass were sampled in Swan Lake for the first time in 2025. The outlet of Swan Lake becomes the Swan River that eventually flows to the Mississippi River (potential source of the Smallmouth Bass). There is a dam about a mile from the western basin of Swan Lake that likely restricts upstream fish movement under most conditions. Six Smallmouth Bass were sampled; five fish from gill nets ranged from 13.4 to 18.0 inches while the one sampled in trap nets was 4.7 inches. Local residents confirmed the presence of Smallmouth Bass is a recent development for the lake. Walleye catches have fluctuated from a low of 2.0 in 1985 to a high of 11.1 fish/gill net in 1954. The 2025 Walleye catch of 7.3 fish/net achieved the management goal of 6.6 fish/net. The size distribution was quite diverse; with good representation of smaller fish in the sample. Walleye ranged from 7.5 to 27.4 inches and averaged 14.7 inches. Annual Walleye fry stocking at lower densities appears to be providing consistent recruitment and a diverse size distribution. Eleven year-classes were documented with fish from age 1 to 16 years old. Age-2 and 3 Walleye represented 18 and 32% of the sample. Walleye averaged 14.5 inches after four years of growth. Anglers should have good fishing opportunities based on the number and size of Walleye sampled. Yellow Perch catches have fluctuated from a low of 10.4 fish/net in 1954 to a high of 63.0 fish/net in 1984. The catch declined to a low of 8.9 fish/net in 2018 but rebounded to 48.7 fish/net in 2025. Yellow Perch ranged from 4.7 to 9.1 inches and averaged 6.3 inches. Few fish over 8 inches were sampled. The perch population is likely more important to the fish community as a prey source than for anglers to target. Tullibee can be difficult to sample but are important to fish communities as a prey source. Catches have been as low as 0.9 fish/net and as high as 22.1 fish/net since 1948. The catch of 1.6 fish/gill net in 2025 was down from 3.9 fish/net in 2018. Tullibee ranged from 9.3 to 19.0 inches and averaged 14.1 inches. Tullibee were not age, but it appears at least two age-classes were present based on the size distribution. Other species observed during the survey included Black Crappie, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Burbot, Common Shiner, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead.

Swan Lake is in ecological lake class 22 and is located just east of Pengilly, MN, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake is 2,472 acres and has a maximum depth of 65 feet. Area Fisheries staff conducted a standard survey setting 15 gill nets and 15 trap nets on 18 August 2025 and began nearshore fish species sampling on 18 July 2025. The nearshore catches will be used with the data from the standard survey to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of lake health. The surveys will assist the watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Nearshore sampling included 24 sites (100 feet long) evenly spaced around the lake, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-ft or 50-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at 18 sites using the 15-ft seine and 11 sites with the 50-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 24 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 25 different species: 22 species by seining and 16 species by backpack electrofishing. The nearshore sampling captured all but four species observed in the gill nets and trap nets (Brown Bullhead, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse and Cisco). The species can be found in the gear-specific catch tables in this report.

Swan Lake is a class 22 lake located on the south side of Pengilly, MN. The lake has one public access and the shoreline is highly developed with almost 500 homes/cabins. The lake management plan indicates Walleye and Northern Pike as the primary species of management with Black Crappie as secondary species. In 2005, a 17 to 26 inch protected slot length limit with only one Walleye over 26 inches in possession was implemented. The 2018 survey was conducted to help evaluate the special regulation. Swan Lake has experienced similar trends in Northern Pike catches that have been observed statewide; that is more and generally smaller since the first survey in 1948. Lower density populations are desired because they usually result in better growth and larger fish, especially for Northern Pike. In the last four surveys, the catch has exceeded the management goal of 5.0 fish/net; ranging from 6.8 fish/net in 2005 to 8.3 fish/net in 2018. In 2018, the sampled fish ranged from 15.6 to 36.0 inches and averaged 22.9 inches. Seven year-classes were identified with fish from age 2 to 8 represented. Age-2 through -4 fish represented 77% of the sample. Northern Pike growth was good compared to statewide averages with fish averaging 24.2 inches after four years. Swan Lake can provide quality Northern Pike fishing opportunities at times; however, anglers are encouraged to release fish longer than 26 inches in order to maintain the quality that exists. Walleye catch rates have fluctuated from as low as 2.0 in 1985 to as high as 11.1 fish/gill net in 1954. Although the 2018 Walleye catch of 7.1 fish/net did not attain the management goal, it exceeded the average catch for lakes with similar habitat. The size distribution was quite diverse; with good representation of smaller fish in the sample. The sampled fish ranged from 7.4 to 28.4 inches and averaged 14.2 inches. Annual Walleye fry stocking at lower density appears to be providing consistent recruitment and a diverse size distribution. Sixteen year-classes were identified with fish from 1 to 23 years old. Age-1 and 2 Walleye represented 27 and 22% of the sample. These year-classes appeared to be quite large. Growth was similar to statewide averages for all ages through age 10. Walleye averaged 15.6 inches after four years of growth. The apparent large year-classes of young fish should provide some harvest opportunities in the next few years prior to them growing into the protected slot. Yellow Perch gill-net catch rates fluctuated from a low of 10.4 fish/net in 1954 to a high of 63.0 fish/net in 1984. The catch had been fairly stable in the last three surveys ranging from 24.6 to 30.2/net but declined to a new low of 8.9 fish/net in 2018. However, the catch was not below levels commonly observed for other lakes with similar habitat. The sampled fish ranged from 4.7 to 9.8 inches and averaged 6.6 inches. The Yellow Perch population is likely more important to the fish community as a prey source than for anglers to target. Tullibee can be difficult to sample but are important to fish communities as a prey source. Tullibee catch rates have been as low as 0.9 fish/net and as high as 22.1 fish/net since 1948. The catch of 3.9 fish/net in 2018 followed the lowest catch on record for Swan Lake in 2013 (0.9/net). The sampled fish ranged from 7.9 to 18.3 inches and averaged 12.6 inches. Though the fish were not aged, it would appear that at least three age-classes were present based on the size distribution.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Rock Bass in Swan. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Swan. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Swan has a maximum depth of 65 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Swan is from 2025.

Yes — Swan has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.