The Mackay Fish Hatchery is located 10 miles north of Mackay, Idaho on Highway 93 and approximately 5 miles west on Fish Hatchery Rd. The primary funding source for Mackay Fish Hatchery is IDFG fishing and hunting license dollars.
Related Location
4848 North 5600 West
Mackay, ID 83251
United States
Turn onto Fish Hatchery Road from Highway 93 approximately 10 miles north of Mackay. Follow the signs as you cross the Big Lost River and approach the hatchery near the base of Lehman Butte.
Mackay Fish Hatchery started on Warm Springs Creek near the backwaters of the Mackay Reservoir in 1924 as a spawning and egg incubating field station. Superior water quality brought the hatchery to its present site in 1925, allowing for expansion to include fish production. Warm Springs, which originates on the hatchery grounds, supplies all the water for the facility. Water temperature averages 52°F and water flows can vary from 17 - 23 cubic feet per second.
There are 26 outdoor concrete raceways. The hatchery building contains 26 early-rearing troughs and 196 egg incubation trays capable of holding over 2 million eggs.
The primary mission of the hatchery is to annually produce approximately 125,000 catchable trout and 2.5 – 3.5 million fingerling trout. Species produced include Rainbow Trout, Henrys Lake Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Snake River Fine Spot Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee, Brook Trout, Tiger Trout (Brown x Brook) and Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Fish raised at the Mackay Fish Hatchery are stocked statewide.
The hatchery also produces Arctic Grayling and Golden Trout for high mountain lake stocking programs in Central Idaho.
Several hundred visitors tour the remote location of the hatchery each year, many not anticipating a fish hatchery situated in a high plains desert setting. The hatchery overlooks the scenic Lost River mountain range, which has many of the highest peaks in Idaho. There is a public restroom available.
Self-guided hatchery tours are permitted every day between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Guided tours or group tours are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, but reservations are suggested. Call (208) 588-2219 for an appointment.
Turn onto Fish Hatchery Road from Highway 93 approximately 10 miles north of Mackay. Follow the signs as you cross the Big Lost River and approach the hatchery near the base of Lehman Butte.