Crews from Iron River NFH off load excess broodstock lake trout. - FWS photo by Steve Redman

Last fall, staff from the Iron River National Fish Hatchery loaded excess lake trout from various strains and year classes and headed for several lakes throughout the region. 

With the approval of the Michigan DNR and Ashland Fisheries Resource Office, Lakes Roland and Independence, (both in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan), were stocked with approximately 900 Superior Apostle Island strain broodstock. 

The Keweenaw Bay area of Lake Superior received about 260 adults of the Superior Traverse Island strain. 

With the approval of the Wisconsin DNR and the Ashland Fisheries Resource Office, Beaver Dam Lake, in northern Wisconsin, was stocked with approximately 500 adults of both broodstock strains. 

The trout averaged between 16 and 30 inches in length and weighed between two and 12 pounds.  Each fish had a strain specific fin clip for identification.  

The reason for stocking these large fish was that the broodstock rearing facility had reached capacity and younger fish are stepping up to take over.   The reduction of nearly 10,000 lbs of fish greatly improves the rearing capacity at the hatchery and will supply exceptional recreational opportunities for the general public.