Michigan’s Fish Stocking Boosts Local Economies and Fishing Opportunities

Did your chance to catch a fish in Michigan just go up 9.1 million times? Probably not, but the state did stock that many fish into Michigan waters this spring and summer, significantly enhancing fishing opportunities and supporting local economies.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stocked a total of 9,118,112 fish across the state, including 10 species and one hybrid. These fish weighed nearly 321 tons, and the stocking effort involved 17 specialized trucks making 451 trips and traveling more than 100,000 miles to 691 stocking sites.

This initiative not only aims to enhance fishing experiences but also to boost fishing charters and local port economies across Michigan. The influx of fish is expected to attract more anglers, benefiting businesses and communities that rely on fishing tourism.

According to Michigan Economic Development Corp (MEDC), hunting and fishing contribute $11 billion annually to Michigan’s economy and are the top job drivers in the state. Fishing itself brought contributes approximately $3.9 billion annually to the state’s economy, supporting over 27,000 jobs. This includes income from fishing licenses, boat sales, tackle sales, and charter fishing, which boosts the port economies around the Great Lakes Sources: (ASA) (Bassmaster) (State of Michigan | Michigan.gov).

“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. The stocked fish are released early in the spring to reduce predation by birds, ensuring better survival rates.

Michigan has six state hatcheries and two cooperative hatcheries that contributed to this massive effort. The Platte River State Fish Hatchery near Honor led the way, stocking 2,304,008 fish, including yearling Atlantic salmon, coho salmon, and spring fingerling Chinook salmon.

Here’s a brief look at the contributions from each hatchery this spring:

Marquette State Fish Hatchery: Stocked 323,710 fish (lake trout, brook trout, splake) across 90 sites.
Thompson State Fish Hatchery: Stocked 1,171,696 fish (steelhead, Chinook salmon) across 64 sites.
Oden State Fish Hatchery: Stocked 762,074 fish (brown trout, rainbow trout) across 159 sites.
Harrietta State Fish Hatchery: Stocked 684,487 fish (brown trout, rainbow trout) across 200 sites.
Platte River State Fish Hatchery: Stocked 2,272,494 fish (Atlantic salmon, coho salmon, Chinook salmon) across 23 sites.
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery: Stocked 1,485,711 fish (steelhead, muskellunge, Chinook salmon) across 51 sites.
Lake Superior State University Hatchery: Stocked 19,285 Atlantic salmon into the St. Marys River.

Additionally, 2.4 million walleye spring fingerlings were stocked in 61 inland lakes and rivers, including Lake Michigan. Local stocking highlights include 120,000 fish in Oakland County, 71,000 in Macomb County, and 50,000 rainbow trout in the Huron River in Wayne County.
The largest single-species stocking was 904,166 walleye at Lake Geneserath in Beaver Island, Charlevoix County. This fall, additional stockings will include brook trout, Atlantic salmon, walleye, lake sturgeon, and muskellunge.

This large-scale stocking effort is crucial for maintaining Michigan’s rich fishing tradition and supporting its robust fishing economy. For more information on the specific fish stocked and their locations, visit the Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database (https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/fishstock/).

By ensuring a healthy fish population, the Michigan DNR not only enhances recreational fishing opportunities but also bolsters the economic vitality of communities dependent on fishing tourism.