As one of the 190,000 visitors at D . C . Booth Fish Hatchery , you will find yourself immersed in a one-of-a-kind experience filled with science , history and adventure . You will be able to feed the fish , learn about different species of trout , tour interpretative historic venues , hike a couple short trails , do some bird watching , shop in the Pond Gift Shop , all while enjoying the public lands of the D . C . Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish , SD .
The grounds are open dawn to dusk 365 days a year , for visitors to explore . Interpretive signage along the walkways and near the historic venues tell the story of D . C . Booth and fisheries . From May – September , staff provide interpretative tours in each of the Historic Venues - the Fish Rail Car , the Fisheries Museum and the Historic Booth House .
In an average year the US Fish and Wildlife , in conjunction with the DC Booth Society staff and volunteers provide pre-arranged tours to approximately 4000 students and adults . A hatchery tour includes topics ranging from its establishment in 1896 , to the historic archives to fish stocking . Typically , guided tours last about an hour but the grounds are open dawn to dusk 365 days per year for self-guided tours .
Its all about fish !
The following are some fun facts about the fish and the hatchery .
You will find three species of trout at the hatchery - Rainbow Trout , Brown Trout , Cutthroat Trout .
Fish at the hatchery for produc tion and research fish are kept in the raceways and smaller ponds . D . C . Booth receives fingerling ( 2 inches in size ) fish every year from other federal hatcheries with broodstock capabilites . Broodstock are fish kept a a facility specifically for the reason of providing eggs . The fingerlings are raised to a catchable size ( about 12 inches ). Depending on the species , fish are grown to catchable size within one to two years .
The fish seen in the underwater viewing windows are for educational purposes only . Visitors can view the trout up close , only inches away with only a window barrier between them and the fish . In the underwater viewing area , you will find some of our oldest fish , some may be as old as 15 years old ! Overall , the trout you see at the hatchery will range in age from a few months to 15 years old . They range in size from 1 pound to 18 pounds . Some of the fish in the pond have sustained injuries due to predators , transportation , and each other . You can rest assured , however , that they have a pretty easy life in the pond with cool fresh water and lots of easy access to food .
Since trout are not native to the Black Hills , their initial appearance was when they were first stocked in Rapid Creek from a hatchery in Leadville , CO . In the early 1900 ’ s , trout eggs and fish were brought to the Spearfish Hatchery from Lake Yellowstone .
Trout prefer cold ( less than 54 degrees ), clean , and well oxygenated water . For that reason they are often found in upland or mountainous areas . Cover is important to trout , and when in the wild are likely to be found where there are rock outcroppings , undercut banks , and overhanging vegetation .
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