Year-Round Fishing Thrives as Michigan Adds 19M Fish

Known for its natural beauty and Great Lakes, Michigan offers an endless supply of outdoor activities year-round. Swimming and boating in summer, leaves changing and bonfires in fall, skiing and snowball fights in winter, and picking fresh flowers in spring all draw visitors and locals alike.

Fishing Year-Round in Michigan

But there is one activity that many Michiganders thrive on all year long. Neither Mother Nature’s hot, humid summers nor brutally cold winters can stop the state’s die-hard fishermen and women.

19 Million Fish Stocked in 2025

As the recreational and competitive fishing industries continue to grow, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports stocking 19 million fish in the state’s lakes and rivers between spring and summer of 2025.

READ MORE: Boat Explosion on Michigan Lake Injures Three

Not only does this process benefit tourism and fishing opportunities, it also has a massive impact on the economy. In fact, fish stocking fuels Michigan’s $3.9 billion sport fishing industry.

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Hatcheries Driving the Fishing Economy

To achieve this, two cooperative fish hatcheries and six state hatcheries work together to produce and stock fish tailored to specific needs. Local media reports that these hatcheries contributed:

What Each Hatchery Contributed

• Marquette State Fish Hatchery: lake trout, brook trout, and splake

• Thompson State Fish Hatchery: steelhead and Chinook salmon

• Oden State Fish Hatchery and Harrietta State Fish Hatchery: brown and rainbow trout

• Platte River State Fish Hatchery: Atlantic and coho salmon

• Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery: steelhead and Chinook salmon

• Lake Superior State University Cooperative Hatchery: Atlantic salmon in the St. Marys River