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| Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery - Interpretive Page
Illinois Department
of Natural Resources
Jake Wolf Memorial
Fish Hatchery
25410 North Fish Hatchery Road
Topeka, IL 61567
309-968-7531
Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery is the largest of Illinois' three hatcheries. Located five miles west of Manito, the hatchery is fifty-five minutes from Peoria. Originally called Sand Ridge Hatchery, it was renamed in 1985 in honor of the late Jacob John "Jake" Wolf, former Deputy Director of Conservation.
Jake Wolf
Fish Hatchery is unique because it is able to rear sixteen different species
of fish. The hatchery is capable of
doing this because it is located on
top of a large aquifer. Ten wells are used to pump water from the aquifer
to the hatchery. The ground water is 54 degrees Fahrenheit, which is cold
enough to raise trout and
salmon. Well water can also be heated in
a 22 acre solar pond, or by several heat exchangers for other warm water species.
Jake
Wolf produces millions of fish annually which are stocked into
Illinois' lakes and waterways. Funding for the hatchery comes from the sale
of Illinois fishing licenses.
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| The following species are produced at
Jake Wolf:
Muskellunge
Tiger Muskellunge
Skamania Steelhead
Channel Catfish
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Hybrid Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Northern Pike
Walleye
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Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Coho Salmon
Chinook Salmon
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Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Redear
Bluegill
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A
Visitor Center is located on the upper level of the hatchery and offers
overlooks to view the different stages of fish production. Other attractions
include: an antique fishing tackle display containing over 200 artifacts,
a "Harvesting the River" exhibit depicting life on the Illinois River
during the late 1800's and early 1900's, and several live and static
fish displays. Tours of the hatchery are available seven days a week
between 8:30 am and 3:30
pm. Weekend tours are by appointment only. For tour
information and reservations please call (309) 968-7531.
Fish Production Calendar
| January
--- Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Skamania
Steelhead. These species will be in fry and fingerling stages of
development. |
| February
--- Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Skamania
Steelhead fingerlings. Begin spawning Northern Pike in latter part
of month. |
| March
--- Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Skamania
Steelhead fingerlings and Northern Pike fry. Incubate Walleye eggs.
Spawn Muskellunge. |
| April
--- Stock Walleye fry, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout,
Brown Trout, Skamania Steelhead fingerlings. Northern Pike, and
Muskellunge fry and fingerlings. Walleye fry stockings. Collect
Striped Bass towards end of month. |
| May
--- Stock Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, and Walleye.
Continue rearing of Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Skamania Steelhead,
Northern Pike, and Muskellunge. Spawn Striped Bass, Smallmouth Bass
and Largemouth Bass. |
| June
--- Stock Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass. Continue rearing
of Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Smallmouth
and Largemouth Bass, and Striped Bass fingerlings. Continue spawning
Largemouth Bass. |
| July --- Stock Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Northern
Pike. Continue raising Muskellunge, Rainbow Trout, and Largemouth
Bass. Begin rearing Channel Catfish. |
| August
--- Stock Muskellunge and Largemouth Bass. Continue raising Rainbow
Trout, Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish. |
| September
--- Finish stocking Largemouth Bass, and Muskellunge. Harvest Bluegill,
Redear Sunfish, and Channel Catfish ponds. |
| October
--- Stock Redear Sunfish, Bluegill, and Channel Catfish. Receive
Coho and Chinook Salmon eggs from Michigan. |
| November
--- Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon eggs begin to hatch late in the
month. Receive Rainbow and Brown Trout eggs from U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. |
| December —All the Trout and Salmon are moved from incubation and started on
feed. |
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