Previous Page | Did You Know | Home

The Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Hatchery is the largest Muskellunge (commonly called Muskies) hatchery in the world, and one of only a handful of automated hatcheries internationally. Operated by the Department of Natural Resources, it provides fish for many lakes in Northwestern Wisconsin. The hatchery found within the city of Spooner Wisconsin sits upon the banks of the Yellow River Flowage.

The hatchery which first opened in 1914 was completely renovated and renamed the Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Hatchery in 1996. A 14,000-square-foot building was constructed with room for a large drive-through incubation area, offices, conference room, laboratory, and visitor center. Education was a large part of the renovation plan and can be seen throughout the grounds. Upon entering the exhibit area visitors are dazzled by a 24-foot mural created by artist Ruth King, a DNR non-point source pollution specialist. The mural shows what happens in a lake scene above and below the surface. Other exhibits offer fishing tips, provide lessons on fish anatomy, and explain how the hatchery works. The Yellow River Flowage, which is a short walk from the front door, is part of a shoreline demonstration project. Shell Lake and Spooner Elementary schools and others in the community helped plant native shrubs, trees, plants, and grasses.

Fish eggs collected in the wild are incubated in the hatchery building and then transferred outside to 40 one-acre and six half-acre ponds. Approximately 664,000 musky fry, 12.6 million walleye fry, and 434,000 northern pike fry are incubated and hatched. The fry are released after a year or kept until fingerling size, 2 to 12 inches long.

Aerial view of the hatchery. Photo Credit: UW-EXT unless specified.	The hatchery doors greet many visitors.	The mural. Click here or on the picture for a closer look at this amazing painting.	The exhibits area.
The controls for the hatchery are automatic. Temperature and flow are control though a computer system.	A battery (series of jars) of sucker eggs. Suckers are hatched and used as food for the hungery muskies, notherns and walleyes.	Jars of muskie eggs, starting to hatch.	When the eggs hatch the fry swim to the top of the jar and are siphoned into tanks. Click here or on the picture for a closer look.
Once hatched the fry swim to the top of the jars where they are automatically siphoned and transported into tanks.	A group of walleye fry in a holding tank. Click here or on the picture for a closer look.	Once the fry are large enough they are transported to one of the 46 line ponds. They will stay here until they are released.	The fry or fingerlings are finally taken to area lakes and rivers. This image is from the mural inside the hatchery building. Click here or on the picture to see more of the mural.
There are many educational opportunities. The Yellow River Shoreland Restoration project runs along the hatchery property. Click here or on the picture for more information about the project.	A Wetland classroom is available to study wetland ecology.	There are a number of handicap accessable fishing piers on the hatchery grounds. These are below the Yellow River Flowage Dam next to the hatchery.	It is also a great place to seek scenery. This is a view just downstream of the dam.

Previous Page | Did You Know | Home