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Blue Dog
Lake
State Fish Hatchery
Blue Dog Lake State Fish Hatchery is the state’s only facility for producing cool-
and warmwater fish such as northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth
bass, bluegill and crappie. In addition, coldwater species such as trout and Chinook
salmon are raised during winter. In all, 14 species of fish have been raised at Blue Dog.
Historical Perspective
South Dakota became a state in 1889, but did not get into serious wildlife resource
management until after the turn of the century. Some of the first fish and game laws
accompanied the hiring of a State Game Warden.
Fisheries management progressed further when the first pike hatchery was built at Lake
Kampeska in 1916 Three years later a trout hatchery was started in Rapid City. By 1929,
two new facilities were built - a trout hatchery at Cleghorn Springs just west of Rapid
City and a pike hatchery on the shores of Pickerel Lake.
In 1982, after 53 years of service, the Pickerel Lake Fish Hatchery was closed. The small,
outdated Pickerel Lake fry hatchery could no longer keep pace with the state’s needs,
Years of pollution and watershed abuse had taken it toll on fish habitat, which had been
lost or made less suitable for game fish, increasing the need for restocking winterkill
lakes and supplementing fingerling stocks in many other waters.
The Department of Game, Fish and Parks had recognized the expanding need for all species
and sizes of fish, and began planning for all new multi-species hatchery in the late
1960s. A hatchery site investigation completed in 1974 provided much of the information
used to locate a site for the new hatchery. Construction was completed in the fall of
1982, and Blue Dog immediately took over all the state’s warm- and coolwater fish
production.
The Hatchery Complex
The hatchery is located on the northwest corner of Blue Dog Lake, where there is abundant
high-quality ground and lake water. These waters are filtered, aerated and heated to
provide the hatchery with a variety of water temperature supplies for many different uses
for both indoor and outside rearing of fish.
Inside the hatchery are 700 incubation jars for northern pike and walleye eggs, 20
incubators for trout and salmon eggs, and 30 rearing tanks. The building contains a
visitor center and aquaria, informative displays and conference room. Outdoors there are
eight raceways and 38 rearing ponds, totaling 53 surface acres of water.
Two hiking trails are also located on the hatchery complex. One trail provides a view of
the raceways and rearing ponds, and the other wanders along the lakeshore and through a
marsh ecosystem. A boat launch and fishing pier provide fishing access to Blue Dog Lake.
Hatchery Activities
Up to 14 species of fish may be reared at the hatchery, with production occurring
throughout the year. In the spring, coolwater fish eggs - northern pike, muskellunge,
walleye and yellow perch - are collected.
After incubation, the newly hatched fry (fish 1-3 days old) are either stocked directly
into public fishing waters or into the hatchery ponds to be reared to fingerling size
before released into the lakes.
During the summer, warmwater fish - large-and smallmouth bass, and assorted panfish - are
raised. Production shifts to Chinook salmon in the fall and winter. Paddlefish and other
species have also been grown at the hatchery. However, much of the hatchery’s efforts
are concentrated on raising walleyes. Typically more than 100 million eggs are collected
from Lake Oahe, a large Missouri River reservoir, and incubated at Blue Dog.
Hatchery personnel use various culture practices to increase production. Each year, more
than 70 million fish are raised at Blue Dog Lake Hatchery for stocking South Dakota
waters.
Hatcheries and Fisheries Management
The hatchery’s mission is to provide suitable quantities and qualities of fish for
the management of South Dakota’s fisheries resources. Because fish stockings is
highly visible and the most commonly thought of aspect of fisheries management, it is
often believed to be the most important. However, stocking is but one tool used by
fisheries managers.
Protecting and enhancing the integrity of South Dakota’s marsh, stream and lake
systems is the department’s highest priority, for without quality habitat we cannot
have quality fishing. Surveying the fish communities and analyzing their capabilities and
problems are the basis for creating the department’s fish management plan. Stocking
is often prescribed to correct fish population problems caused by environmental defects or
catastrophes and physical conditions that can’t be immediately solved by habitat
improvement. Also, the hatchery is capable of raising new species, such as tiger muskies,
saugeye and lake herring, for introduction into South Dakota waters. Therefore, the role
of the hatchery is fish management is vital.
Visitation
The hatchery is open Monday through Friday. Daily hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If your organization or class is interested in learning more about the hatchery or in
reserving a guided tour, contact the hatchery at:
Blue Dog Lake State Fish Hatchery
RR1 Box 22A
Waubay, SD 57273
(605)947-4657
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