Spooner, Wisconsin Hosts One of World's Largest Musky Hatcheries

The Governor Thompson Hatchery raises thousands of walleye and musky each year to stock lakes and rivers across Northwest Wisconsin.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:36am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration of a musky fish repeated in a grid pattern, conceptually representing the iconic game fish that the Spooner hatchery works to raise and stock in local waterways.The Spooner hatchery's work in raising and stocking trophy-sized muskies helps sustain Wisconsin's thriving recreational fishing industry.Spooner Today

The Governor Thompson Hatchery in Spooner, Wisconsin is one of the largest musky hatcheries in the world. The hatchery raises thousands of walleye and musky each year, which are then released into lakes and rivers across Northwest Wisconsin. The hatchery has been in operation for over 30 years and is supported by a local conservation group called 'Friends Into Spooner Hatchery' (FISH).

Why it matters

Fishing is a huge industry in Wisconsin, and the Spooner hatchery plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy fish populations and supporting the state's thriving recreational fishing economy. The hatchery's work helps ensure anglers have access to trophy-sized muskies and other prized game fish.

The details

The hatchery uses nets to capture spawning fish from local lakes, fertilize their eggs, and then raise the young fish in a series of 46 rearing ponds. After several months of growth, the fish are relocated to lakes and rivers across a wide geographic area of Northwest Wisconsin. The hatchery's visitor center also educates the public about its conservation efforts, including an 'Adopt a Musky' program that allows anglers to track the growth of tagged fish they catch.

  • The hatchery has been in operation for over 30 years, celebrating its 3-decade anniversary.
  • The hatchery is gearing up for the upcoming walleye fishing opener in Wisconsin and Minnesota, which is just a few weeks away.

The players

Governor Thompson Hatchery

One of the largest musky hatcheries in the world, located in Spooner, Wisconsin. The hatchery raises thousands of walleye and musky each year to stock lakes and rivers across Northwest Wisconsin.

Friends Into Spooner Hatchery (FISH)

A local conservation group that supports the work of the Governor Thompson Hatchery, including promoting its efforts through a visitor center and an 'Adopt a Musky' program.

Ruth King

A Natural Resources Educator at the Governor Thompson Hatchery.

Ben Oldenburg

A Fish Technician at the Governor Thompson Hatchery.

Larry Damann

A board member of the Friends Into Spooner Hatchery (FISH) conservation group.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Oh, it's absolutely huge”

— Ruth King, Natural Resources Educator

“We have the capacity to raise a lot of fish here at the hatchery”

— Ruth King, Natural Resources Educator

“Tedious. It takes a long time to fix these nets”

— Ben Oldenburg, Fish Technician

“Even guys who fish will come here and learn a lot about things they didn't know about their sport”

— Larry Damann, FISH Board Member

“I highly recommend stopping anywhere around the fishing opener. We almost always have something to see”

— Ruth King, Natural Resources Educator

What’s next

The Wisconsin DNR is turning the old 1914 hatchery on site into a walk-through museum that will be open to the public.

The takeaway

The Spooner hatchery's work in raising and stocking thousands of trophy-sized muskies and other game fish is crucial for maintaining healthy fish populations and supporting Wisconsin's thriving recreational fishing industry. The hatchery's visitor center and conservation efforts also help educate the public about the importance of aquatic habitat preservation.