Fishing Black Swan Lake in Johnson County, Kansas

• Overview

  Kansas holds Black Swan Lake, in Johnson County. The country round it is mixed woodland from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Shawnee, 0.6 miles off. After that come Merriam at 2.4 miles and Mission at 4.2 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Black Swan Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Records held for Johnson County cover green sunfish, bluegill, orangethroat darter, longear sunfish and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Black Swan Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 79°F on average, January about 28°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Black Swan Lake follows the weather closely. The first warm week of the year changes everything here.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Quivira Lake is 2.2 miles off. Treat access at Black Swan Lake as something to verify.