6 Best Fish Farms in Michigan (2021)

Let’s get a bit fishy. Well, it’s about the buzz around the fish farming business or the aquaculture in Michigan that has been growing for nearly a decade.

There are huge, untapped resources available in the northern parts of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and both private and state-run fish farms are sprawling to make the most of it through the development of aquaculture. 

Let’s check out the best fish farms in the state!

List of Fish Farms in Michigan

Farm NameLocationPhoneWebsite/Email
Grayling Fish Hatchery Grayling, MI989-344-1100 graylingfishhatchery.org
Harrietta Hills Harrietta, MI 877-389-2514 harriettahills.com
Spring Valley Trout Farm Dexter, MI734-426-4772 springvalleytroutfarm.com
Blue Springs Fish Farm Gladwin, MI989-429-8029 bluespringsfishfarm.com
Stoney Creek Fisheries & Equipment Grant, MI231-834-7720 stoneycreekequip.com
Watersmeet Trout Hatchery Watersmeet, MI906-358-4331 watersmeettrouthatchery.com

1. Grayling Fish Hatchery

Grayling Fish Hatchery facility is one of the major fish farms in Michigan that attracts researchers and families to witness its unique natural resources by the Au Sable River. The hatchery was set up in 1919 with the purpose to serve the local community. 

For years, the Grayling Hatchery has been preserving, protecting, and improving the connection between the local people and nature. 

Not only for business, but you can also check out the farm to experience different educational and conservation-related initiatives. 

You can even fish for trout at the farm without a license. The farm also provides tackle and bait, and the pricing of trout is 50 cents/inch. After catching fish, you can take them home. 

The main species of fish on this farm are hatchery trout, wild trout, and king-sized Bluegill.

Farm Information


2. Harrietta Hills Fish Farm

Harrietta Hills Trout Farm is a local family-owned pond and fish farm. Harrietta is a small village located nearly 20 miles west of Cadillac, Michigan.

Since 1950, the Harrietta Hills Fish Farm has grown to be a major private fish farm in Michigan. 

The farm specializes in producing Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Hybrid Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Fathead Minnows. The firm has made its name due to the quality of its fish.

Out of all the species of fish mentioned above, warm water fish, including Bass and Bluegills, do well in nearly any type of pond that has a reasonable water quality.

Colder and deeper ponds or the ones that have a constant outflow and inflow are the best for farming trout.

Ponds having shallow, sandy, or warm areas support the reproduction of Bass and Bluegill.

Farm Information


Spring Valley Trout Farm

Spring Valley Trout Farm occupies a massive 20 acres of land with perfectly maintained grounds in a park setting.

Spring Valley Farm is located in Dexter, which is only 20 minutes drive from Ann Arbor. It is a family-owned trout farm and guarantees that anyone who wishes to catch a fish will surely catch one at this farm, and you can keep the fish you catch. 

You can also stroll through the beautiful park setting that includes nine spring-fed ponds, two shaded picnic shelters, an authentic log cabin, and even a play area for children. 

You can get cane poles and bait at the farm. Grills are also available to cook your fish at the site. The pricing of fish is per pound.

The fish species available at the farm are Catfish and Rainbow Trout.

Farm Information


Blue Springs Fish Farm

Blue Springs Fish Farm is a licensed aquaculture facility that specializes in farming brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and arctic grayling. 

The farm offers a wide range of services, including pond stocking, dressed trout, and water quality testing. The farm no longer offers fee fishing. 

To visit the farm for business or leisure, it is better to call them before ordering pond. For fishing at this farm, you don’t need a license and you will also get everything you need to catch fish. 

Farm Information


Stoney Creek Fisheries & Equipment

Stoney Creek Fisheries was set up in 1970 by Steve and LeAnn Ouwinga. Initially, they farmed fish and sold it to public fishing, restaurants, and pond stocking. A few years down the line, the owners decided to focus on pond stocking. 

With the growing customer base, Stoney Creek was receiving requests for different types of fish and began farming bass, bluegill, and other species of fish.  

Due to the flexibility of shipping the pond supplies to anyone or any location, Stoney Creek has witnessed rapid growth at the national level. The farm has so far supplied more than 27,000 customers from all 50 US states and Canada.

Stoney Greek does farming of warm water fish, cool water fish, cold-water fish, and ornamental fish.

  • The warm water fish are Hybrid Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Black Crappie.
  • Cool water fish are Yellow Perch and Walleye
  • Coldwater fish is Rainbow Trout
  • In ornamental fish farming, it has assorted Goldfish and Koi.

Farm Information


Watersmeet Trout Hatchery

You can find Watersmeet Trout Hatchery located in the western part of the Upper Peninsula. This hatchery was once state-owned but now is a privately run family business. 

In the early 1930s, the State of Michigan set up this massive 9,000 sq. ft. hatchery. Then Bob and Barb Tieman bought it in 1970 as a private business, and they opened it to the public for fishing and pond stocking. 

Later, the facility became a major tourist hotspot, attracting more than 4000 visitors a year.

The fish species available on the farm are Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Yellow Perch, Hybrid BlueGill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Fathead Minnows, Crappie, Walleye, and Channel Catfish.

Farm Information


Fish Farming in Michigan

According to a report by the Michigan State University, until 2020, Michigan had 52 fish farms, out of which 41 are private, and 11 are public farms.

Collectively, these farms produce 23 types of fish, including Atlantic salmon, Bluegill, Brook Trout, Catfish, Lake Trout, and more.

Source: canr.msu.edu

The round-up above revolves around the private fish farms, which have been driving the fishing business in the state.

Among the 41 private fish farms in Michigan:

  • 46 percent do stocking;
  • 24 are for food;
  • 15 percent of farms are for bait;
  • 15 percent are for fee fishing;
  • 2 percent are for ornamental fishing. 
Source: canr.msu.edu

Conclusion for the Best Fish Farms in Michigan

The aquaculture industry in Michigan faced a tough challenge in 2020 because of the pandemic. 

After the fish farms reopened later, there was a huge demand spike for fish, which has driven the sales. In December 2020, the Cares Act Funding pumped $15 million to Michigan fisheries. 

Due to this financial support, Great Lakes aquaculture, charter fishing, commercial fishing, and seafood processing businesses are thriving again. 

Check out the fish farms above and get the fish you need!

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