Fish Spawning (Egg-Taking) Facilities

Fish spawning (egg-taking) plays a vital role in maintaining the Great Lakes sport fishery for coho and chinook salmon, steelhead (migratory rainbow trout) and some brown trout. In early spring, for example, the Department of Natural Resources stocks steelhead into tributaries of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior where they imprint on the scent of the water before moving into the lakes. When the steelhead are adults, they return to those familiar streams to spawn.

Because the streams get too warm for the young trout or salmon to survive, the DNR spawns the adults, hatches the eggs, and rears them at state fish hatcheries.

When the fish are six inches long they are ready to smolt and trade in their large dark spots for a silvery sheen. At that time, they are released into tributary streams to imprint and the cycle begins again.

Egg-Taking Facilities: an Eggs-traordinary Experience

You can see egg-taking procedures at three state egg-taking sites:

Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility

• Species: Chinook salmon
• Location: On Strawberry Avenue off of County Highway U, east of Sturgeon Bay and south of the ship canal in Door County
• Dates: Seasonal operation, generally late September to November
• Hours: Call ahead
• Telephone: (920) 746-2860

C.D. Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility

• Species: Steelhead and brown trout, Coho and chinook salmon
• Location: 3884 Ransom Moore Lane - off of County Highway F, west of Kewaunee, on the west bank of the Kewaunee River, Kewaunee County
• Dates: March - December, public viewing window open at all times
• Hours: Site is open daily, dawn to dusk. Building is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday
• Telephone: (920) 388-1025
• Note: Call ahead for tour information (minimum 10 people).

Root River Steelhead Facility

• Species: Steelhead (rainbow) trout, Coho and chinook salmon
• Location: On the Root River, inside Lincoln Park, in Racine, Racine County
• Dates: Seasonal operation, generally fish are in weir: March 1 - April 30 and September 1 - October 31. During these periods, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays are the best days to view.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., call ahead
• Telephone: (262) 884-2300
• Note: During off season or to schedule tours during operation, please call ahead. For more information see the online self-guided tour of the facility