Big Swan Lake in Todd County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Todd County, Minnesota. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. The water covers around 877 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. There is roughly 7.1 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. On our Todd County list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Long Prairie, 8.3 miles out. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 96 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Big Swan Lake

  Published depth figures reach 52 feet at the lowest point. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Todd County list largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Big Swan Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 9°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Big Swan Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Long Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Big Swan Lake locally before you travel.