Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.
Little Swan Lake is a 371-acre lake located in Dickinson County, Iowa. Maximum depth has not been measured. An exploratory electrofishing survey was conducted on June 11, 2025 as part of the Iowa DNR general survey protocol. Yellow Perch (72.9 fish/hour) and Black Bullheads (68.6 fish/hour) were abundant in the electrofishing sample and should provide good angling opportunities in Little Swan Lake. Yellow Perch length averaged 6.2 inches and ranged from 3.9 to an impressive 10.0 inches. Yellow Perch weight averaged 0.3 pounds and ranged from 0.1 to 0.8 pounds. Mean relative weight of Yellow Perch was 90, indicating that the average fish was not heavy for its length. Black Bullhead length averaged 7.0 inches and ranged from 5.7 to 9.0 inches. Black Bullhead weight averaged 0.2 pounds and ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 pounds. Mean relative weight of Black Bullheads was 94, indicating that the average fish was not heavy for its length. Green Sunfish (30 fish/hour) were observed in moderate abundance and should provide a decent panfish angling opportunity in Little Swan Lake. Green Sunfish length averaged 5.8 inches and ranged from 4.2 to 7.0 inches. Green Sunfish weight averaged 0.3 pounds and ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 pounds. Mean relative weight of Green Sunfish was an impressive 118, indicating that the average fish had a very healthy weight for its length. Fathead Minnows were collected in moderate abundance (N = 16). Fish species observed in low abundance included Bigmouth Buffalo (N = 1, length = 14.4 inches, weight = 1.86 pounds), Bluegill (N = 6, length range = 4.8–8.1 inches, weight range = 0.2–0.6 pounds), Golden Shiner (N = 4, length range = 3.3–4.4 inches), and Northern Pike (N = 2, length range = 17.9–19.7 inches, weight range = 1.1–1.6 pounds). One goal of the electrofishing survey was to evaluate stockings of Yellow Perch and Northern Pike. Yellow Perch stockings appear to have been successful, fostering a population with many catchable-sized fish and large specimens up to 10 inches. Northern Pike stockings appear to have been somewhat less successful, although catchable-sized fish are present in the lake. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Iowa’s fisheries, please contact Andrew Carlson, Fisheries Biologist, at andrew.carlson@dnr.iowa.gov or (712) 330-3706. - Last updated on 06/30/2025.
In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.
To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .
The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.