WWMT Channel 3 out of Kalamazoo has a neat video (about 1.5 minutes long) showing fish being loaded into a tanker truck at Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery near Mattawan. The fish were chinook salmon and they were headed for various streams and rivers to be “planted.” It is a nice little video that provides a quick glimpse of the great work our Michigan DNR does to keep fishermen happy.

You should plan a visit to the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery. Nature trails surround ponds of various sizes and the hatchery is one of the premiere spots in the state for birdwatching. Catch and release fishing is available every Saturday from June through August for kids ages 5-16. Call ahead to reserve your spot as they tend to fill up rather quickly.

The hours for the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery for June through August are -
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday, noon - 5 p.m., closed Mondays.

They are closed from November to February and the hours for March - May and Sept. - Oct. are -
Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday, noon - 4 p.m., closed Mondays.

Head on over to the Michigan DNR website for links to information about all six of our Michigan fish hatcheries.