Thompson State Hatchery

The tanks which grow the 1.4 million chinook salmon, steelhead, brown & rainbow trout released into Michigan rivers and lakes.

Crisp, clear explanations inside the hatchery building convey the destruction of Upper Peninsula fish habitat— mostly caused by logging and sawdust that slowed and polluted streams. That destruction has made it necessary to manage rivers and lakes today by stocking them with fish.

Here some 1.2 million trout and salmon are "reared"—not just hatched, but fed and grown until they're big enough to be stocked in lakes and streams. That's 6" to 9" for trout and 3 ˝" to 4" for salmon. Visitors can see the indoor incubation room and tanks and the 12 big 10,000-gallon outdoor raceways. Each can hold about 70,000 seven-inch fish.

A hard-packed path goes around the show pond or trophy pond at the raceways' end. Signs explain the ecosystem and watershed. Some very large, mature trout can be seen—up close if you bring bread or, better yet, grasshoppers to feed them. Some of these big trout are up to 20" to 22", over 10 pounds, and around six years old. These brown trout, lake trout, and rainbow trout were ones that somehow escaped getting into the fish pump and being deployed elsewhere. Some of the biggest are taken to become the Big Fish at the high-visibility Kitch-iti-kipi/Big Spring down the road.
The hatchery's necessary water comes from a 47° F spring, two 59° F deep wells, and three shallow wells under 50°. Thompson is unique among Michigan hatcheries to have the warm wells. They let water be blended for a slightly warmer water which, while still cold, facilitates greater growth.

In spring and fall you might see fish being transferred to a truck that takes them to streams to be stocked. A special fish pump is used to reduce the stress of handling. Most of these fish go to lakes and streams in northern Michigan.
As part of the state's walleye program, the hatchery here also produces 10 to 15 million walleye fry released in lakes or taken elsewhere to be raised in rearing ponds.

From U.S. 2 at Thompson, about 8 miles west of Manistique, turn north onto M-149 at the blinker light. Hatchery is in 1.5 miles, on right. (906) 341-5587. Open daily 7:30-4, weekends and holidays 7:30-3:30. No charge. Building handicap accessible. Path not ADA accessible but it works.
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