Gavins Point Fish Species
Gavins Point NFH is considered a combination hatchery because the fish raised here are considered cold, cool or warm water fish. Listed below are three different fish species raised at our hatchery that are examples of fishes from each temperature category.
Cool Water Fish - Walleye
The walleye is a cool water fish that can tolerate higher water
temperatures and lower oxygen contents than the rainbow trout. Adult
broodstock are captured
in area lakes during early spring, and milt and eggs are taken from the males
and females. The adult walleye are unharmed and returned to the
wild. The fertilized eggs are taken to Gavins Point NFH and hatched in jars. Over 30 million eggs are taken in a year, with approximately 20
million eggs hatching annually. Eggs and young fry are
shipped to various places in the United States. About one million fry are stocked into
culture ponds at Gavins Point and raised to fingerling size. The
fry are later released into various lakes and reservoirs in South
Dakota.
Cold Water Fish - Rainbow trout
The
rainbow trout is a cold water fish and requires water temperatures below 70
degrees F with a high oxygen content. Trout at Gavins Point are raised on
flowing well water that has an average water temperature of 55 degrees
F. Trout eggs are received in July and December, with most fish
being raised for stocking and forage use. Trout that are stocked into
suitable lakes are usually raised to 8 inches and stocked in October. The
remaining trout are used to feed the pallid sturgeon, an endangered species.
Warm Water Fish - Largemouth Bass
The largemouth bass is an example of a warm water fish that thrives in
temperatures above 70 degrees F. Here at Gavins Point NFH, we keep
adult broodstock largemouth bass in culture ponds at all times. In the
spring, the broodstock largemouth bass build nests, and the male protects the eggs and young
fry. The pond is harvested later that spring, and the adults are separated
from the fry in put into another pond. The fry are stocked or released
into reservoirs and lakes in Nebraska and South Dakota.
Gavins Point NFH also stocks warm water fish such as black crappie, bluegill and perch into culture ponds to spawn naturally. Adults and fry are later separated and the fry are stocked back into culture ponds for additional growth, or stocked into lakes and reservoirs.
Last updated: January 13, 2012
