Lake trout yearlings are stocked on a reef in Lake Huron from the MV Spencer F. Baird.

Iron River’s primary goals are focused around lake trout and coaster brook trout restoration.  In an effort to restore naturally reproducing and self sustaining populations the Hatchery stocks trout of various sizes into the Upper Great Lakes and their watersheds annually. 

During the fall of 2007, a total of 377,961 fingerling lake trout were stocked into Lake Michigan and 335 retired adult lake trout were stocked into two lakes in the U.P. of Michigan to provide recreational angling opportunity. 

2008 began with 50,600 lake trout being stocked into Lake Superior.  During the spring, 1,151,629 and 102,922 yearling lake trout were stocked into Lakes Michigan and Huron respectively.  Nearly 90 percent of our spring yearlings were stocked using the MV Spencer F. Baird which places the fish onto offshore reefs. 

Finally, early in the summer we stocked 185,000 coaster brook trout fry into waters of the Grand Portage Indian Community along the north shore of Lake Superior, 30,000 coaster brook trout fry into waters managed by Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and 2,000 yearling coaster brook trout into Whittlesey Creek near Ashland Wisconsin.

All in all this was a terrific year of fish production at Iron River NFH.  We look forward to fall when we can stock more fish and continue to help restore native fish to the upper Great Lakes.