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Swan Lake experienced a large fish kill in the summer of 2015 due to low levels of dissolved oxygen after a massive algae bloom. The fishery has rebounded since then and the largemouth bass population is very strong. Harvestable size bluegill and crappie can be caught, but expect to sort through a lot of smaller fish as well. Channel catfish are stocked on a regular basis. The bullhead population has been growing and there are a lot of smaller bullhead in the lake now.(2020)
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 .