(WXYZ) — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said it has stocked nearly 19 million fish this year, just in time for fall fishing.
According to the DNR, a total of 18,958,970 fish totaling a combined 331.5 tons have been stocked across the state. It consists of 10 different species and one hybrid.
The DNR said fish stocking is an important activity to provide residents and visitors with quality fishing opportunities.
Over the course of the year, the DNR said there have been 417 stocking trips, totaling 91,000 miles and 716 stocking sites.
Also, the department said no fish were lost at the Oden State Fish Hatchery this year, despite the northern Michigan ice storm that knocked out power at the hatchery for several days.
"We had another excellent spring and summer stocking season that will bring ecological benefits and fishing opportunities to Michigan anglers," said Aaron Switzer, DNR fish production manager. "Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff, healthy, high-quality fish were reared and delivered to stocking sites in excellent condition. The numbers produced and stocked hit the targets for most areas."
The number and type of fish vary by hatchery, and in Michigan, there are six state hatcheries and two cooperative hatcheries that work together.
The breakdown by hatchery is:
- Marquette State Fish Hatchery - 368,452 yearling lake trout, brook trout and splake at 94 inland lakes and Great Lakes sites
- Thompson State Fish Hatchery - 2,397,307 yearling steelhead, spring fingerling Chinook salmon, yearling muskellunge and spring fingerling walleye at 51 sites
- Oden State Fish Hatchery - 737,604 yearling brown trout and rainbow trout at 98 inland and Great Lakes sites
- Harrietta State Fish Hatchery - 825,388 yearling brown trout and rainbow trout at 171 sites
- Platte River State Fish Hatchery - 4,892,188 yearling Atlantic salmon and coho salmon and spring fingerling Chinook salmon at 30 sites
- Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery - 7,198,561 yearling steelhead and spring fingerling Chinook salmon at 49 sites
- Cooperative Teaching Hatchery at Lake Superior State University - 23,378 Atlantic salmon in the St. Mary's River
