04/29/2026
Fish stocking time! It's a busy time of year for Michigan's six state fish hatcheries as fish hit the road, headed to their new homes in lakes and streams across the state.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries production teams stock over 20 million fish a year. Spring is a busy time as trout, salmon, muskie and walleye are scooped up into specialized stocking trucks and head for new waters. We've got information in the comments regarding how you can find our fish stocking database.
From March through June the fish stocking trucks will travel over 100,000 miles to thousands of locations around Michigan, investing in fishing opportunities for future anglers.
But it goes beyond the catch. Fish stocking is a valuable tool used by fisheries teams to help restore ecosystem balance, rehabilitate struggling fish populations and even reintroduce species that once called these waters home.
Some of the fish will be marked or tagged, especially the many salmon heading into Michigan's waters. If you find a tagged or marked fish, please report it. We've added info in the comments.
If you see DNR stocking trucks out and about, stop by and check out the action! As always, thank you to the anglers of Michigan who support this investment into our fishing opportunities, which is made possible through fishing licenses.
