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Hatcheries and rearing stations

Fishing Wisconsin

DNR's hatcheries, egg collection facilities and rearing stations raise millions of fish to be stocked every year in lakes and rivers where there is no or little natural reproduction. Hundreds of waters statewide get this help to provide more fishing opportunities for anglers.

Visit our hatcheries and other fish-rearing facilities

Tours at the hatcheries are often conducted for school groups, scouts and other groups by appointment. For everyone's safety and the health of the fish, please keep your children under control at all times. Running alongside the raceways and throwing things into the water is prohibited. Your cooperation will ensure that everyone has a nice visit. Please remember to call ahead. Hatchery hours and season of operation are subject to change.

Spawning (egg-taking facilities)

Art Oehmcke || Les Voigt || Black River Falls || Brule || Kettle Moraine || Gov. Thompson || Lake Mills || Nevin || Osceola || St. Croix Falls || Wild Rose

Art Oehmcke Hatchery

  • Species: Muskellunge, walleye and suckers.
  • Operations: Hatching and rearing.
  • Location: On County Highway J, 2 miles east of Woodruff, Oneida County.
  • Restrooms at the DNR Fire Station - across the street.
  • Picnic areas and campgrounds nearby in Northern Highlands-American Legion State Forest.
  • Guided tours: Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily from the Tuesday after Memorial Day to the Friday before Labor Day (May 31, 2022 through Sept. 2, 2022).
  • Telephone:(715) 356-5211, x215.
  • Address: 8770 Highway J, Woodruff, WI 54568.
  • Visitor center with a live fish display.

Les Voigt Hatchery

  • Species: Brook, brown and lake trout, steelhead, splake; Coho and chinook salmon.
  • Operations: Broodstock, hatching and rearing.
  • Location: On Highway 13, between Washburn and Bayfield, Bayfield County.
  • Visitor Center with live fish display.
  • Restrooms at hatchery.
  • Campgrounds nearby, Chequamegon National Forest.
  • Hours: Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Sunday, all year.
  • Telephone: (715) 779-4021.
  • Address: 141 South Third Street, Bayfield, WI 54814.
  • Mailing Address: PO Box 589, Bayfield, WI 54814.
  • Note: Group tours are available upon request.
  • More Information on Les Voigt Hatchery.

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Black River Falls Fish Propagation / Rearing Station

  • Species: Muskellunge, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes.
  • Operations: Primarily rearing and stocking; limited hatching facilities. This station produces all the large and smallmouth Bass for DNR stocking purposes in Wisconsin.
  • Location: The office is located at the Black River Falls DNR Service Center, 910 Highway 54 East, Black River Falls, near the junction of Highway 54 and I-90/94.
  • Hours: Temporarily closed to visitors. No tours at this time.
  • Telephone: (715) 284-1447.
  • Address: 910 Highway 54 East, Black River Falls, WI 54615.
  • Note: No tours are regularly scheduled. Interested groups may inquire about a tour by calling (715) 284-1447. No fish are present on the premises. Rearing ponds are located in Jackson County and near Colby in Marathon County. They are in use from May through September.

Brule Rearing Station

  • Species: Seeforellen strains of brown trout, with the occasional steelhead (rainbow trout) and coho salmon.
  • Operations: Rearing.
  • Location: On Hatchery Road off of Highway 27, south of Brule, Douglas County.
  • Visitor Center with informational hatchery games, brochures and handouts for children and adults with an impressive fish and wildlife display.
  • Restrooms at hatchery.
  • Picnic area at the hatchery, Carry-In, Carry-Out: We invite you to enjoy a picnic on the hatchery grounds, but please plan to take out what you bring in.
  • Hours: Rearing station grounds are open 8:00 a.m. – to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday all year; Visitor Center hours are subject to change without notice.
  • Tours: Guided tours are available Monday and Thursday at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Please gather the information and education sign. Guided tours for groups are available upon request by calling and scheduling an appointment. We will try to accommodate tour requests during weekday hours but will accommodate for occasional weekends. Self-guided tours are available during regular hours.
  • Telephone: (715) 372-4820.
  • Address: 13847 E. Hatchery Road, Brule, WI 54820.
  • More Information on Brule Hatchery.

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Governor Tommy G. Thompson Hatchery

  • Species: Muskellunge, walleye, suckers, and occasionally northern pike.
  • Operations: Hatching and rearing.
  • Location: West side of Spooner on the south side of Highway 70, across from DNR Northern Regional Headquarters, Washburn County.
  • Visitor Center with the live fish display open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays all year (Note: hours are subject to change without notice)
  • Restrooms at hatchery.
  • Picnic area nearby.
  • Hours: Open from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with guided tours on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Tuesday after Memorial Day to the Friday before Labor Day (May 31, 2022 through Sept. 2, 2022).
  • Telephone: 715) 635-4147.
  • Address: 951 W. Maple Street, Spooner, WI 54801.
  • More Information on Governor Tommy G Thompson Hatchery.

Kettle Moraine Springs Hatchery

  • ATTENTION: The hatchery will be undergoing construction. It will be closed to visitors until the construction is complete.
  • Species: Chinook and coho salmon; Chambers Creek and Ganaraska strains of steelhead.
  • Operations: Hatching and rearing.
  • Location: Take Highway 28 north from Batavia, turn left (west) on Cherry Hill Road to Trout Spring Road, and turn right. Or take Highway 28 southwest from Cascade to County Highway S, continue on S to Trout Spring Road, and turn left, Sheboygan County.
  • Restrooms at hatchery.
  • Hours: Temporarily closed to visitors. No tours at this time.
  • Telephone: (920) 528-8825.
  • Address: N1929 Trout Spring Road, Adell, WI 53001.
  • Note: Large tours by appointment only.
  • More Information on Kettle Moraine Springs Hatchery.

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Lake Mills Hatchery

  • Species: Coho salmon, northern pike and walleye.
  • Operations: Hatching and rearing.
  • Location: Lake Mills on the east side of South Main Street, Jefferson County. Please use the indicated parking lot.
  • Restrooms near the hatchery.
  • Picnic area near the hatchery.
  • Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hours are subject to change without notice.
  • Telephone: (920) 648-8012.
  • Address: 302 South Main Street, Lake Mills, WI 53551.
  • Note: Guided tours for 12 or more persons only. Please call ahead.

 

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Nevin Hatchery

  • Species: Brook, brown and rainbow trout.
  • Operations: Broodstock, hatching and rearing.
  • Location: In Fitchburg on the east side of Fish Hatchery Road (with DNR South Central Regional Headquarters), south of the "Beltline" (Highways 12, 14, 18, 151), Dane County.
  • Hours: Temporarily closed to visitors. No tours at this time.
  • Telephone: (608) 275-3246.
  • Address: 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711.
  • Note: Tours for groups of 15 or more are given by appointment only during May, June and July on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please call (608) 275-3246 to make a reservation.
  • Pets are not allowed on hatchery grounds.

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Osceola Hatchery

  • Species: Rainbow trout and brook trout (domestic).
  • Operation: Broodstock, hatching and rearing.
  • Location: Take Highway 35 northeast from Osceola, turn left (north) on County Highway S, and follow the signs, Polk County.
  • No public restrooms at the hatchery.
  • Camping and picnic facilities nearby, Interstate State Park.
  • Hours: Open 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Telephone: (715) 294-2525.
  • Address: 2517 93rd Avenue Unit A, Osceola, WI 54020.

St. Croix Falls Hatchery

  • Species: Brook and brown trout (domestic strains).
  • Operations: Broodstock, hatching and rearing.
  • Location: West (toward St. Croix River) of River Street in St Croix Falls business district, Polk County.
  • Camping and picnic facilities nearby, Interstate Park.
  • No public restrooms at the hatchery.
  • Hours: Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Telephone: (715) 483-3535.
  • Address: 230 River Street, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024.
  • More Information on St. Croix Falls Hatchery.

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Wild Rose Hatchery

  • Species: Brown trout, steelhead (rainbow trout), coho salmon and chinook salmon; Great Lakes spotted muskellunge, northern pike, walleye and lake sturgeon.
  • Operations: Broodstock, hatching and rearing.
  • Location: On the west side of Highway 22, about 0.5 miles north of Wild Rose, Waushara County.
  • Live fish display.
  • Restrooms at the hatchery.
  • Picnic area at the hatchery.
  • Visitor Center Hours: The Visitor Center is open for summer hours from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and during summer holidays (including Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day).
  • In the spring and fall months, the building is open to visitors from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in April, May, September and October. The property is closed to the public from November through March.
  • IN-PERSON GROUP TOURS ARE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT. April through October on Wednesday through Saturday, 8 am to 3 pm, and Summer Holidays. Please call or Email the Natural Resource Educator at least 2 weeks ahead to schedule a time for your group tour. Our classroom can accommodate groups of up to 30 people. If you have a larger group, please plan to split your group, and visit at two times.

  • VIRTUAL GROUP TOURS ARE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT. Virtual group tours will continue to be available by request with advance notice. Send an Email request at least two weeks before your group event to joan.voigt@wisconsin.gov to arrange for your group's virtual tour. Hatchery tour topics include the Wild Rose Hatchery Tour, Ancient Lake Sturgeon, Invasive Aquatic Species, History of the Great Lakes Fishery, and a look at the past - Historic Wild Rose Hatchery. Lesson worksheets can be sent by email ahead of the virtual tour for class participation.

  • Telephone: (920) 622-3527, x209.
  • Address: N5871 State Road 22, Wild Rose, WI 54984.
  • Carry-In, Carry-Out: We invite you to enjoy a picnic on the hatchery grounds, but please plan to take out what you bring in.
  • Dogs are not allowed on the grounds, in the Education Center, or in any production area.
  • More Information on Wild Rose.