State Fish Hatchery - Hagerman, Idaho & Clear Springs Food Visitor Center - Buhl, Idaho

One of my favorite things about Idaho is all of the outdoor recreation that is so close by. Many outdoorsmen enjoy hunting and fishing in their own backyards. I haven't been fishing in years but this week we spend some time learning about the local wildlife that lives right here in our famous Snake River.

First we stopped at the Idaho State Fish Hatchery in Hagerman, Idaho. Hagerman Hatchery is located about 4 miles south of Hagerman on highway 30. To get there turn at the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area sign and follow the gravel road about 1/2 mile to the hatchery. The hatchery provides tours to large groups with advance notice.

 

 

 Visitors are allowed on the hatchery grounds to look at the fish, and a showpond where you can get a close view of some of our small town celebrities like the giant sturgeons. There is no charge to visit the facility but bring some quarters so you can get a handful of fish feed to throw out. There are also opportunities to fish for trout, bass, bluegills and carp on the 880 acres of Wildlife Management Area property surrounding the hatchery.

 

 

Once we ran out of quarters we headed east down Highway 30 to River Road and followed it through some beautifully manicured riverside subdivisions to the Buhl grade where we turned west towards the Clear Springs Food Visitors Center. Clear Springs Foods is the world's largest trout farm raising more than 20 million pounds of rainbow trout each year, conducting research and development, manufacturing fish feed, processing fish and marketing specialty products.

The free visitor's center is home of the beautiful clear pond with an underwater viewing area where you can get a great view of sturgeon and other fish. The visitor's center also has a lovely picnic area and small stream. It's a great place to spend the afternoon!