Swenson

Beltrami County

Near Bemidji

DOW: 04008500

WalleyeExcellent · 98Northern PikeExcellent · 84Yellow PerchGood · 74

A 412-acre lake near Bemidji in Beltrami County — best known for walleye and pike. Last surveyed 1993.

Fish Species (11)

Walleye

Stocked 2022

Excellent · 98

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

17.6"

Avg Weight

1.90 lbs

Catch rate: 10.0 per gill net · typical 1–5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable walleye95% keeper-size (15"+)

10–14" · 5%Largest sampled 27"

Stocked with fingerlings every other year · 11,491 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	0.79	17.6"	7.72 lbs	Standard electrofishing
Jul 19, 1993	10.00	17.6"	1.90 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 19, 1993	0.56	17.6"	1.84 lbs	Standard trap nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2022	fingerlings	4,000	136.0	Private citizens and sporting groups
2020	fingerlings	3,006	136.0	Private citizens and sporting groups
2018	fingerlings	2,285	136.0	Private citizens and sporting groups
2016	fingerlings	2,200	135.8	Private citizens and sporting groups

Northern Pike

Excellent · 84

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

21.6"

Avg Weight

3.00 lbs

Catch rate: 14.2 per gill net · typical 2.2–8.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike36% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 64%Largest sampled 36"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	14.20	21.6"	3.00 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 19, 1993	0.89	21.6"	2.81 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 74

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.2"

Avg Weight

0.16 lbs

Catch rate: 35.6 per gill net · typical 1.5–13.8 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch15% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 85%Largest sampled 10"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	0.67	6.2"	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 19, 1993	0.20	6.2"	-	Special seining
Jul 19, 1993	35.60	6.2"	0.16 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rock Bass

Good · 52

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.6"

Avg Weight

0.19 lbs

Catch rate: 8.3 per trap net · typical 0.8–3.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable rock bass2% keeper-size (8"+)

4–7" · 98%Largest sampled 8"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	6.40	5.6"	0.22 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 19, 1993	8.33	5.6"	0.19 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 19, 1993	0.60	5.6"	0.27 lbs	Special seining

Bluegill

Good · 51

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.5"

Avg Weight

0.20 lbs

Catch rate: 53.6 per trap net · typical 7.7–43.4 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill7% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 93%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	62.00	5.5"	0.02 lbs	Special seining
Jul 19, 1993	9.20	5.5"	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 19, 1993	53.56	5.5"	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 51

Typical numbers · small fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

9.7"

Avg Weight

0.58 lbs

Catch rate: 62.0 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable largemouth bass9% keeper-size (12"+)

8–11" · 91%Largest sampled 18"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	62.00	9.7"	0.58 lbs	Standard electrofishing
Jul 19, 1993	40.80	9.7"	0.01 lbs	Special seining
Jul 19, 1993	2.40	9.7"	0.93 lbs	Standard gill nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 33

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.8"

Avg Weight

0.23 lbs

Catch rate: 4.7 per trap net · typical 1.4–5.9 for a lake like this

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	2.60	5.8"	0.02 lbs	Special seining
Jul 19, 1993	6.20	5.8"	0.19 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 19, 1993	4.67	5.8"	0.23 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Insufficient

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.0"

Avg Weight

0.77 lbs

Catch rate: 0.79 · Electrofishing survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	0.79	10.0"	0.77 lbs	Standard electrofishing

Other species in this lake (3)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Excellent · 81

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

18.5"

Avg Weight

3.07 lbs

Catch rate: 2.2 per gill net · typical 0.5–2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	0.80	18.5"	-	Special seining
Jul 19, 1993	2.20	18.5"	3.07 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluntnose Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 59.4 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	59.40	-	-	Special seining

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 19, 1993	0.20	-	-	Special seining

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Rock Bass

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Biologist Notes

July 19, 1993The fish community of Swenson lake is diverse with most preferred species well represented. The exception to this is probably the apparent loss of a S…

The fish community of Swenson lake is diverse with most preferred species well represented. The exception to this is probably the apparent loss of a Smallmouth Bass fishery. One smallmouth was observed while scuba diving, though none were captured.The Walleye population is good with a history of consistant natural reproduction observed through 1990. Growth is good with many 5 year old fish reaching about 17 inches in length. The largest Walleye sampled was 27 inches in length and the smallest about 14 inches. Northern Pike are abundant with consistant natural reproduction. The largest pike captured was 36 inches in length but most were in the 18-22 inch range.Largemouth Bass are abundant and most fish were captured by means of electrofishing or trap netting. The average length is about 10 inches but a few bass greater than 14 inches in length were captured. The largest bass was 18.9 inches in length. Bluegill were also abundant with an average weight of 5 per pound. The largest Bluegill was 9.4 inches and the average was 6.4 inches in length. Pumpkinseed are also common and similar in size to Bluegills. Rock Bass are abundant, though most are small. Black Crappie are present but the only crappie captured was by electrofishing. Yellow Perch were captured in high numbers in gillnets while trap net catches were low. The average size was about 7 inches, though perch as large as 10.5 inches were observed. Some Neascus (black spot) was found on perch and other fishes in some parts of the lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Swenson?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, and Bluegill in Swenson. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Swenson?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Swenson. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Swenson?

Swenson has a maximum depth of 76 feet and a mean depth of 31 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Swenson last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Swenson is from 1993. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Swenson have any invasive species?

No invasive species are on record for Swenson in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

Are there special fishing regulations on Swenson?

No — Swenson has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide walleye and sauger limit is: 6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20". Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.