DNR publishes 2022 fish stocking summary; more than 6 million stocked
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released the 2022 stocking numbers for inland waterbodies and the Great Lakes. More than 6 million fish were stocked in 2022 to fill stocking quotas established by fisheries biologists.
Every year, the DNR raises millions of yearling and fingerling fish to stock into waterbodies across the state. Stocking helps boost natural fish populations, maintain or restore existing fisheries and supports recreational fishing opportunities. Stocking is also used to evaluate management actions or propagation techniques.
DNR fish crews stocked these species into inland waters across the state in 2022.
Brook trout: 232,896 Brown trout: 315,981 Lake sturgeon: 12,421 Lake trout: 78,099 Largemouth bass: 114,241 Muskellunge: 41,970 Northern pike: 48,181 Rainbow trout: 267,198 Walleye: 1,588,918 Here is a list of the fish stocked into Lake Michigan (LM), Lake Superior (LS) and their tributaries in 2022.
Brook trout (LM): 50,021 Brown trout: 475,701 (LM), 140,839 (LS) Chinook salmon (LM): 893,650, plus 145,095 raised by the Michigan DNR Coho salmon (LM): 412,273 Lake sturgeon (LM): 4,185 Lake trout (LS): 88,027 Muskellunge (LM): 3,029 Steelhead (LM): 850,772, plus 150,497 raised by the Michigan DNR Splake (LS): 47,770 Walleye (LS): 109,850 These numbers include large fingerling walleye purchased by the DNR from private growers or tribal hatcheries that contributed to filling walleye stocking quotas. These numbers do not include fish supplied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the stocking of fry or any other private or tribal hatchery stocking events.
Visit the DNR’s stocking database (https://dnr. wi.gov/fisheriesmanagement/Public/Summary) to view stocking data from previous years or stocking numbers for a specific location.
