Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Branson Trout Hatchery

I had the pleasure of touring the Shepherd of the Hills Trout Hatchery in Branson, Missouri, today, it was an amazing facility!

The tour provided insights into managing highly concentrated fish populations. It was fascinating to see how they ensure the health and well-being of the trout while maintaining such large numbers.

One of the highlights was seeing the record-setting Brown Trout display—a remarkable fish weighing 25 lbs, 5 oz, caught on a 2-pound line by Brad Wright in September 1998.



Another interesting feature was the "survival fish" in their holding pond. These are trout that were injured or sick but still looked quite healthy when I fed them some pellets.

The fish food used at the hatchery is carefully selected through a bidding process every year. Currently, they use Cargill feed, though Skretting is a preferred brand. The pellets are small—about 1/16 of an inch or less.





One of the most impressive aspects of the facility was their high-tech feeding system. A truck with built-in scales measures the precise amount of food to deliver as it drives by the tanks. These tanks are about 3 feet deep, 10 feet wide, and 100 feet long, holding approximately 80,000 fingerlings or 25,000 brood fish. I recorded one of the feedings.

Yep, I also greatly enjoyed that facility.

I didn't realize that browns and rainbows had significant behavioral differences. The rainbows have a separate facility at the back of the hatchery. If you ask nicely, they sometimes let you back there to observe how they care for rainbows.

(Of course, I asked so many questions that my kids had to start pushing me along so they could go jet-skiing.)

Learninboutfish,

The last I was there the hatchery was not open for visitation. Wanted my kids to tour it. Perhaps another time. I do hope you got the opportunity fish below the dam for trout. Grey scuds work pretty darn good there due to the amazing population of assellus. Very productive water. My favorite time to fish that water? Thanksgiving to Valentine's day. Have to bundle up but what a blast.

We were here the second week of October last year and caught our limit below the dam.

I hooked a trophy that got off right at the boat as we were going to net him.

The others were average size like this one. They are a beautiful fish!

What a beauty eh!