Wisconsin DNR Managed Lake Michigan Egg Collections

The state fisheries department maintains facilities to support predator fish populations for sport fishing.

Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Fishing

Screen-print poster illustration of a metal spawning tray holding salmon eggs on stones, evoking environmental hatchery management. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources continues its annual salmon egg collection process to support predator fish populations in Lake Michigan. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should government agencies actively intervene to stock predator fish in local lakes?

The Wisconsin DNR operates specialized egg collection sites at Strawberry Creek, Kewaunee, and Racine to support the Lake Michigan fishery. These efforts help meet annual stocking targets for chinook and coho salmon.

Why it matters

Active hatchery management is required to provide a reliable supply of predator fish for the Lake Michigan sport fishery. These operations are funded by Wisconsin fishing license revenue and the Great Lakes Salmon and Trout Stamp.

The Wisconsin DNR maintains annual collection goals of 3.5 million chinook eggs, 1.2 million coho eggs, and 1 million brown trout eggs. These targets support annual stocking goals of 1.2 million chinook and 500,000 coho salmon.

The players

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

This state agency is responsible for managing fishing, wildlife, and natural resources across Wisconsin.

Root River Steelhead Facility

This is a state-operated site in Racine that serves as one of three egg collection facilities for Lake Michigan.

Strawberry Creek

This location serves as the primary chinook salmon egg collection site for the Wisconsin DNR.

The details

Fisheries biologists, health specialists, and technicians perform on-site fertilization during spawning runs before transporting the eggs to state fish hatcheries. The Strawberry Creek facility remains the primary collection site for chinook salmon in Wisconsin.

In 1963, the Wisconsin DNR began stocking steelhead in Lake Michigan.
In 1964, the Michigan Department of Conservation obtained 1 million coho salmon eggs.
The current annual Lake Michigan stocking goals were established in 2023.
The Wisconsin DNR will host a public open house at the Root River Steelhead Facility on October 10, 2026.

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Roadmap

The intensive management of salmon and trout reflects a long-term shift toward artificially sustaining predator populations in Lake Michigan to support recreational interests. This approach continues a legacy of state-led intervention that began with the initial stocking efforts of the 1960s.

Anglers purchasing state fishing licenses and the Great Lakes Salmon and Trout Stamp directly fund these hatchery activities. These efforts ensure the continued availability of predator fish for the state's robust sport fishing community.

The takeaway

Maintaining predator populations in Lake Michigan requires consistent human intervention at specific collection sites. Residents interested in these environmental efforts can visit the Root River facility for the upcoming open house.