Thunder River Rearing Station

Located on the South Branch of the Thunder River with a lovely waterfalls at the head, the Thunder River rearing station annual produces around 300,000 fingerling brown trout and yearling coho salmon for Lake Michigan.

I am pretty proud of this place as I have been here since 1989. I've met a lot of interesting people that have come through here as visitors and as former employees, and most have had a sentimental attachment to the place. It's a small production facility, but because it is so beautiful and has been here for so long, that is worth a visit in itself.

Amy Gardon, DNR fisheries technician

Visiting the hatchery

When visiting the hatchery, the public can view fingerling fish in rearing houses and holding ponds, visit the information center and take a walk near the waterfalls. Stocking occurs in April and September so the facility may be empty during those times.

The facility sits in a valley and the driveway is very steep which can be a challenge to bicyclists going out. Although there are no picnic areas on site, the hatchery is just five miles away from Governor Thompson State Park.

Fishing is allowed downstream from the main entrance, but biosecurity precautions must be respected and all gear must be completely dry or disinfected prior to entering the facility to prevent the spread of disease such as VHS.

A Little History

Thunder River Hatchery is very connected to the community as part of it's rural history. The hatchery was built around 1938-1945 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) using log structures, hand-placed riprap on the river and flowing water from the river to raise the fish - no pumps or wells. Since it was built, the hatchery has been a place for local families to celebrate milestone events and today, longtime area residents and seasonal visitors make a stop at this facility an annual event.