Fishing_Content Page_Hatchery Open Houses

Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility and Root River Steelhead Facility Open Houses 2024

Children pointing and observing a large fish in a fish tank.
 

Check Out The Fun At Our Open Houses

Get a close-up look at how Wisconsin DNR fisheries crews give nature a helping hand to keep fishing great on Lake Michigan. Open houses at two of the state's three egg-collecting facilities along the lake's shore allow you to see DNR crews collecting eggs from fish. These eggs will be used to produce the next generation of fish to be raised at state hatcheries and stocked back into the "big pond." Enjoy spin casting, knot-tying, concessions and educational programs as well.

Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility || Root River Steelhead Facility

Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility - Open House Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024

The Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility in Kewaunee is having an open house on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The open house will feature many fun activities, such as wagon rides, T-shirt fish printing, guided facility tours, sturgeon adoption, fishing games, displays and demonstrations. Open house visitors will also get a chance to watch Chinook salmon spawning and egg collection up close. The facility is located at N3884 Ransom Moore Lane, Kewaunee. For more information, call (920) 388-1025.

WHEN: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12

WHERE: Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility
N3884 Ransom Moore Lane
Kewaunee, WI 54216

MORE INFO: (920) 388-1025

Directions to the Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility

  • From Green Bay: Highway 29 East; 29 miles to County Highway B; turn left (North) 1 mile to the stop sign at County Highway F; turn right (East) 2 miles; down a large hill with a wide sweeping turn to Ransom Moore Lane (just before bridge and river) (large sign with fish in a field on the left); turn left-The facility is at the end of Ransom Moore Lane.
  • From Manitowoc / Two Rivers: Highway 42 North to Kewaunee and Highway 29; turn left (West) to "y" in the road. Veer right on County Highway C to County Highway F at Footbridge, WI; turn left on County Highway F (large County Highway shop building/s) 1/3 mile (across the bridge over the river), then first right turn onto Ransom Moore Lane (large sign with fish in the field on the left)-The facility is at the end of Ransom Moore Lane.
  • From Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Chicago: I43 North to Highway 29-just South of Green Bay; Highway 29 East; 25 miles to County Highway B; turn left (North) 1 mile to stop sign at County Highway F; turn right (East) 2 miles; down a large hill with a wide sweeping turn to Ransom Moore Lane (just before bridge and river) (large sign with fish in a field on the left); turn left. The facility is at the end of Ransom Moore Lane.
  • From Sturgeon Bay: Highway 42 South to Kewaunee and Highway 29; turn right (West) to "y" in the road veer right on County Highway C to County Highway F at Footbridge, WI; turn left on County Highway F (large County Highway shop building/s) 1/3 mile (across the bridge over the river) then first right turn onto Ransom Moore Lane (large sign with fish in a field on the left). The facility is at the end of Ransom Moore Lane.

Root River Steelhead Facility - Open House Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024

Join us Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an open house [PDF] at the Root River Steelhead Facility in Racine, where we collect eggs from trout and salmon to produce the next generation of fish to test Lake Michigan anglers.

Everyone is encouraged to attend this fun-filled event, whether you're a novice angler, a veteran angler, or like to see fish. Enjoy guided facility tours with DNR crews demonstrating fish spawning procedures, fishing rod casting lessons, knot tying, fly-tying, and more.

The Root River Steelhead Facility is located in Lincoln Park along the beautiful Root River in Racine, WI. The DNR built the facility in 1992-1993 in partnership with the Salmon Unlimited fishing club to aid in the capture and egg collection of migrating trout and salmon. Millions of trout and salmon are stocked annually into Lake Michigan tributaries, where they spend their young lives before entering Lake Michigan as adults to live and grow. Eventually, they return to the same stream they were stocked to perform their annual spawning rituals.

The DNR, Salmon Unlimited, and SouthEast Trout Unlimited strongly encourage people of all ages to participate in a great day at a great place along the great Root River. We hope to see you all there!

WHAT: Root River Steelhead Facility Open House

WHEN: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12

WHERE: Root River Steelhead Facility
2200 Domanik Drive
Racine, WI 53404

Directions to the Root River Steelhead Facility

To get to the Root River Steelhead Facility from I-94, go east on Highway 20 to Highway 31. Go north on Highway 31 to Highway C (Spring Street). Turn right onto Spring Street to Domanik Drive. Turn left on Domanik Drive and go to Lincoln Park. Follow the DNR signs to the facility.

Another route would take you south on Hwy 38 to Spring Street. Take a right on Spring Street and then travel about two blocks to the entrance of Lincoln Park. A large sign denoting the Root River Steelhead Facility will direct you into the park. Take Domanik Drive through the park to the facility.