Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery

[ricbak]

We where planning on taking a group of young kids down to the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery today but one of the group leaders called yesterday and they said this weekend was not good as nothing is happening just yet with the netting, We where invited to show up next saturday so hopefully the weather starts warming up. If you have never visited the Hatchery during spring spawn season I would recommend you make the trip there, you will get to see how these fish are milked, mixed, and hatched to fry, you also get a chance to see some 40"-50+" muskies up close as well as the big walleyes and northerns from northern Iowa. The Hatchery is open 24hrs a day this time of year for visitors.

[LOTWSvirgin]

hey thanks for the info and saveing me time I was going to bring my daughter down there 2maro. So they say next weekend will be a better time to be there she is four and loves fishing more than I do no lie I guess it is in the blood and happy easter

[PoleBender1]

I was down to the Hatchery on Saturday and there was a sign on the front door saying that gillnetting would begin Monday night April 9th. Next weekend would be a great time to visit the Hatchery.

[reddog]

I just left there and there are fish in the tanks.

They were able to go Monday night and caught some fish.

The weather shut them down since then, but they are going to run tonight and probably will go every night till they are full.

Theres some nice eyes in there:

And some lunker Muskies!

There should be lots more to see by the weekend.

It doesnt cost anything to tour the facility and its open 24/7 during the hatchery process. Its a free roaming facility, but keep in mind they are working. The hatchery workers are usually more than willing to share information, when it is slow.

If you want to be there when the trucks bring fish in, it is usually about 10 - 10:30 pm, and 1-1:30 am each night.

Theres also snakes, and a full aquarium of the rest of the species of fishes in the Iowa Great Lakes.

[pascooter94]

hdrider and myself were there on sat and I"ll I can say is oh my god !!! do thay have some big fish in there, I asked on what is the biggest so far and its is 29 3/4 " long for a walleye, and for the muskey's i think over 50 inches, if you can get down there and see it.

[reddog]

Gettin bigger every day:

53" 47lbs.

Just cuz she dwarfs the other fishin the tank, dont think the other fish are small..

Walleyes over 13lbs also in now.

[findergameandfish]

I never knew this was down there? I just came from looking at a cabin down there. And have been going down there for about four years now. Could I get some directions to it?

[reddog]

It's right in between the south end of Big Spirit, and the North end of East Okoboji, straight south of the boat ramp on the south end of Big Spirit.

Where are you looking for a cabin at? Big Spirit?

[findergameandfish]

West Okoboji. My aunt has a place down by Milford and one on East Okoboji. I have never fished there but I have seen some nice fish caught out there.

[swfisher]

a couple of friends and i went down there last night around 12:30 and the sign on the door said open but it was locked adn there was no lights on

[reddog]

It is my understanding, that they are now locking the front doors after 10. This is because they cannot keep track of what happens/liabilities at the front aquarium area when they are busy in the back during the hatchery operations.

I am told, that you need to park out front and walk around to the back and the doors will be open directly to the hatchery operations area.