SPOONER FISH HATCHERY

Washburn County is known for its fishing. Area lakes can produce big walleyes and musky on their own, but when Mother Nature needs an occasional boost, the Governor Tommy G. Thompson State Fish Hatchery in Spooner is up to the task. It is the largest musky hatchery in the world, and one of only 12 automated hatcheries internationally. Operated by the Department of Natural Resources, it provides fish for many lakes in Northwestern Wisconsin.

The hatchery first opened in 1914. It was completely renovated in 1996 when the 4,568-square-foot building was re-placed by a state-of-the-art 14,000-square-foot building with room for a large drive-through incubation area, offices, conference room, laboratory, outdoor fish exhibit, and visitor center.

Visitors can learn about water ecology and fish rearing by viewing the incubators, rearing ponds, and educational exhibits.

The fish 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 in a year to stock dozens of lakes or to be raised to fingerling size, 2 to 12 inches long.

A shoreline restoration demonstrationproject began in the spring of 2000 at the hatchery along the Yellow River, and it is open for public viewing.

The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mon-day through Friday and daily during April and May, the incubation period.

Guided tours are offered at the hatchery starting at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.