Hatchery Activities

Activities at the hatchery vary by seasons. In the fall and early winter, fertilized eggs are delivered from federal fish hatcheries.  Eggs are placed into incubator trays to hatch. Hatching takes 30 days from fertilization for rainbow trout and 45 days for Chinook salmon at a constant 52 degrees Fahrenheit spring water temperature.

The newly hatched sac-fry are placed into tanks inside the hatchery building. When they have grown to three inches, the fish, now known as fingerlings, are moved to outside rearing pavilion where they are grown until stocked.

Most trout are released to lakes and streams from April through October.