Please contact the local fisheries management biologist for current information.
West Swan Lake is an 830-acre lake in Emmet County, Iowa. Maximum depth measures 5.7 feet. Lake restoration activities were recently conducted, and preliminary signs indicate that water quality and fisheries have responded well. Water clarity was at least five feet off the dock at the boat ramp on the southern end of the lake in July 2025. An exploratory fyke-netting survey was conducted on October 1 and 2, 2025, in accordance with Iowa DNR general survey protocols. Seven species—including valuable sport fish such as Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch—were observed in the fyke-net survey. The most abundant species in the survey was Black Bullhead (N = 87, 17.4/net-night). Black Bullhead length averaged 4.3 inches and ranged from 3.2 to 9.3 inches. Black Bullhead weight averaged 0.1 pounds and ranged from 0.02 to 0.7 pounds. Mean relative weight of Black Bullheads was 99, indicating that Black Bullheads were in good condition (i.e., had a healthy weight for their length). Fish species observed in moderate abundance included Bluegill (N = 27, 5.4/net-night), Green Sunfish (N = 22, 4.4/net-night), and Yellow Perch (N = 39, 7.8/net-night). Bluegills were small, averaging 2.5 inches and ranging from 1.4 to 4.1 inches. Bluegill weight averaged 0.03 pounds, ranging from 0.01 to 0.04 pounds. Mean relative weight of Bluegills was 101, indicating that Bluegills were in good condition. Green Sunfish were also relatively small, averaging 3.4 inches and ranging from 1.7 to 5.7 inches. Green Sunfish weight averaged 0.05 pounds, ranging from 0.02 to 0.2 pounds. Green Sunfish were in excellent condition (mean relative weight: 113). A variety of Yellow Perch sizes was observed; fish averaged 5.8 inches and ranged from 4.9 to an impressive 10.8 inches. Yellow Perch weight averaged 0.1 pounds and ranged from 0.05 to 0.6 pounds. Mean relative weight of Yellow Perch was 100, indicating that Yellow Perch were in good condition. Fish species observed in low abundance included Largemouth Bass (N = 5, 1.0/net-night), Northern Pike (N = 1, 0.2/net-night), and Orangespotted Sunfish (N = 2, 0.4/net-night). Largemouth Bass were small, with lengths averaging 7.1 inches and ranging from 4.8 to 8.4 inches. Largemouth Bass weight averaged 0.2 pounds and ranged from 0.05 to 0.3 pounds. Although they were small, Largemouth Bass were in excellent condition—mean relative weight was 120. The single Northern Pike captured in the fyke-net survey measured 14.3 inches and 0.6 pounds, leading to a low relative weight of 85. Orangespotted Sunfish were small, averaging 1.9 inches and ranging from 1.7 to 2.1 inches. Weights of Orangespotted Sunfish were not taken due to small size, so relative weight could not be calculated. Overall, the Iowa DNR has observed positive water quality and fisheries signals in the months following restoration activities at West Swan 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 10/16/2025.
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 .
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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.