Your opportunity to catch more fish this season looks pretty good after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released its numbers of the total fish stocked throughout the state in 2022. Over six million fish were stocked in 2022 to fill stocking quotas established by fisheries biologists. Walleyes topped the species list for Wisconsin’s inland bodies of water with nearly 1.6 million fish planted. Lake Michigan saw over 475,000 brown trout and over one million Chinook salmon stocked last year.
Every year, the DNR raises millions of yearlings and fingerling fish to boost natural fish populations, maintain or restore fisheries, and support recreational fishing opportunities.
You can see the complete 2022 inland and Great Lakes stocking summary below.
2022 INLAND STOCKING SUMMARY
Species
Total Number Stocked
Brook trout
232,896
Brown trout
315,981
Lake sturgeon
12,421
Lake trout
78,099
Largemouth bass
114,241
Muskellunge
41,970
Northern pike
48,181
Rainbow trout
267,198
Walleye
1,588,918
Below is a list of the fish stocked into Lake Michigan (LM), Lake Superior (LS) and their tributaries in 2022.
2022 GREAT LAKES STOCKING SUMMARY
Species
Total Number Stocked
Brook trout (LM)
50,021
Brown trout
475,701 (LM)
140,839 (LS)
Chinook salmon (LM)
893,650
145,095*
Coho salmon (LM)
412,273
Lake sturgeon (LM)
4,185
Lake trout (LS)
88,027
Muskellunge (LM)
3,029
Steelhead (LM)
850,772
150,497*
Splake (LS)
47,770
Walleye (LS)
109,850
*These fish were raised by the Michigan DNR and were stocked by Wisconsin DNR staff. They helped supplement Wisconsin DNR stocking quotas but are not included in the Wisconsin DNR’s stocking database.
(photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR from 2022 fish stocking of Forestville Dam)