Grayling Fish Hatchery to open for the season Memorial Day weekend

The historic Grayling Fish Hatchery will open for the 2023 season on Friday, May 26, for Memorial Day weekend, and the facility plans to offer grayling fish for viewing this year, according to Fish Hatchery officials.

The namesake of the City of Grayling and Grayling Charter Township – the grayling fish – has been extinct in local waters for decades. The Grayling Fish Hatchery tried to bring grayling back to the community last year for viewing, but after working with the state for months on the endeavor, shipment of the grayling did not happen.

Officials said last week that grayling will be present at the Fish Hatchery this year, and the site will continue to offer its normal array of attractions, such as the fishing pond for kids and raceways filled with trout.

“We do have grayling,” said Josh Greenberg of the Grayling Fish Hatchery board. “We have three viewing bridges now, and great gardens, a bluegill pond, and raceways of trout and grayling. We will be opening Memorial Day weekend.”

There are no admission charges to visit the Grayling Fish Hatchery, but “donations are appreciated to help us keep the facility as good as it can be,” officials said.

“The Hatchery is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” according to the Grayling Fish Hatchery’s website. “Visit our 1,000-plus rainbow trout in our raceways, provided by the Michigan DNR,  look for our wild trout populations who are always ready for a handout of fish food, visit our marsh raceway which houses many turtles and frogs, and 16 and under are welcome to fish in the Children’s Fishing Pond for free. Just bring your own equipment and bait and practice catch and release only.”

More information on the Grayling Fish Hatchery is available online at www.graylingfishhatchery.org.