Wisconsin DNR: Over 6 million fish stocked throughout inland waters, Great Lakes in 2023
(WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced just how many fish had been restocked throughout the state’s inland waters and the Great Lakes in 2023.
A release provided by the Wisconsin DNR on Thursday states that over six million fish were stocked in the past year to fill stocking quotas that fisheries biologists establish.
Every year, the DNR raises millions of fish to stock into waterbodies across the state.
Stocking helps boost natural fish populations, maintain or restore existing fisheries, and support recreational fishing opportunities. Stocking is also used to evaluate management actions or propagation techniques.
Wisconsin DNR
Listed below is the complete list of the types of fish and the amounts that were stocked in 2023.
2023 inland stocking summary:
Species | Total Number Stocked |
Brook Trout | 204,467 |
Brown Trout | 324,422 |
Lake Trout | 90,565 |
Largemouth Bass | 80 |
Muskellunge | 35,786 |
Northern Pike | 108,969 |
Rainbow Trout | 251,508 |
Walleye | 1,964,192 |
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2023 Great Lakes stocking summary:
Species | Total Number Stocked |
Brook Trout (Lake Michigan) | 49,998 |
Brown Trout | 455,253 (LM) |
Chinook Salmon (LM) | 1,386,492 |
Coho Salmon (LM) | 500,189 |
Lake Sturgeon (LM) | 591 |
Lake Trout (LS) | 73,251 |
Muskellunge (LM) | 7,681 |
Rainbow Trout (LM) | 522,852 |
Splake (LS) | 40,816 |
Walleye (LS) | 100,000 |
Officials say the provided numbers “do not include the stocking of newly hatched fry, fish stocked by private fish farms under a stocking permit, fish stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or fish stocked by our tribal partners.”
More information about stocking data from previous years or stocking numbers for a specific location can be found here.
