Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, Yankton, SD

After leaving Pfanny’s Farm, I headed north into South Dakota.  I had another windy day and soon needed a break from the road.

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I checked the area for things to do and found Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium. The facility has been producing fish for sport fishing and restoration projects for nearly 60 years. It is one of 70 federal hatcheries and fish technology centers operated nationwide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Did You Know?

The National Fish Hatchery System works to support healthy, self-sustaining populations of fish and other aquatic species across the country. Every year they raise and stock over 98 million fish to support the recovery and restoration of imperiled species, recreational fishing, and tribal subsistence fisheries.

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I started my tour in the fish hatchery. It was amazing to see the different stages of the process.

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This station produces numerous species of fish.  It specializes in rearing pallid sturgeon & paddlefish, two unique Missouri River native species. 

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This hatchery is one of very few that can produce cold, cool & warm water fish species. 

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The aquarium at Gavins Point was small, but had thirteen tanks featuring examples of indigenous species & unusual variations.

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Paddlefish

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Pallid Sturgeon

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“White” Snapping Turtle

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Other fish at the aquarium included Flathead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Goldeye, Kendall Warm Springs Dace, Smallmouth Buffalo & Blue Catfish.

For someone who is a novice fisherwoman, I learned a lot. Two of the cool water fish at the facility are Walleye & Yellow Perch. They are handled differently than the other species here. Parent fish are never at the hatchery. Instead, eggs are collected from wild fish at the lakes where they live.

I had never seen a Walleye, but got quite close to some below. I can tell you they are tasty!