Fish Hatchery

World’s Largest Muskie Hatchery

The Gov. Tommy G. Thompson State Fish Hatchery in Spooner is the largest hatchery of its kind in the world. It is operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The facility annually produces nearly 2 million walleyes, 100,000 muskellunge and some northern pike.

During spring spawning in northern Wisconsin lakes, workers take wild adult fish in nets. Their abdomens are rubbed to expel eggs and sperm before being released. The procedure does not harm either the fish or the eggs.

Each year hatchery workers collect 32 million muskie and walleye eggs and five million northern pike eggs — plus a staggering 100 million sucker eggs to feed the hungry muskie babies! When they arrive at their new home, the eggs first go into hatching jars. In the wild, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the eggs would survive. In the hatchery, 60 to 95 percent survive. After a few days the fish hatch and swim into indoor tanks. As they grow, they move to one of 46 outdoor rearing ponds for a few weeks. When the fish are big enough, they are stocked back into Wisconsin lakes.

   

A visitor center is open year-round, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Friday. Guided tours are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can see hatchery incubation in glass viewing tanks. Learn how to tell the age of a fish and what lures to use to catch one. There are displays about water quality, wildlife and habitat protection. The center also features a large mural of a lake scene, painted by DNR fish biologist Ruth King, showing plant and animal life above and below the water level.

There is a walking path from the visitor center across the dam to Fish Hatchery Park on the Yellow River Flowage. There are picnic facilities, a fishing pier and boat launch, and the park is handicapped accessible.

The hatchery and park may be reached from Highway 70 or Highway 63. For more information call (715) 635-4147.