Tour the Oldest Fish Hatchery In Connecticut At Burlington State Fish Hatchery

We have many great parks in Connecticut that are filled with beautiful bodies of water that can be enjoyed in a number of ways, from boating to swimming. Fishing is one of the state's most popular sports. Have you ever gone fishing at a Connecticut state park? If you enjoy fishing, it's likely that you have, but did it occur to you where the fish that are stocked into these ponds and rivers come from? Fish to stock these bodies of water are produced at a number of fish hatcheries in Connecticut, and one of the most important is the Burlington State Fish Hatchery in Burlington, CT. This place is surprisingly interesting and one of the most unique places you can go in Connecticut. Check it out:

There are several state fish hatcheries in Connecticut, but the Burlington one is the oldest. It was built way back in 1923!

The Burlington hatchery is open for both self-guided tours and guided tours (by reservation). It's an interesting place, with a variety of fish species living both inside in tanks and outside in ponds.

One notable project being worked on here is the Brown Trout "Survivor" Program. The goal is to create a line of brown trout that are better capable of surviving in the wild.

The fish that are used as breeding stock are ones that have been captured from the Farmington River after surviving at least one year.

The fish in the outdoor ponds here are protected from predators by netting that has been placed over the ponds.

The Burlington hatchery is also the only Connecticut hatchery that produces Kokanee salmon, a variety of sockeye salmon.

This is such a neat place to visit, and it's fascinating to see something that you probably haven't spent much time thinking about!

For more information about the Burlington Hatchery, including some fascinating videos, check out the state of Connecticut website.

Have you ever visited any of the fish hatcheries in Connecticut? Share your experiences in the comments! If you'd like to make a longer visit to Connecticut, consider staying at this unique local hotel.