Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery

A unit of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, the Tishomingo hatchery was established in 1929 and today encompasses 235 acres with 62 ponds holding 52 surface acres of water, three fish holding houses used primarily as nursery areas, four 20-foot diameter fiberglass circular tanks and six large concrete raceways. Hatchery raises paddlefish, catfish, alligator gar and alligator snapping turtles. Water for the hatchery is obtained by diverting water from Pennington Creek, where it flows through a mile-long canal to the many ponds and raceways. Being a spring-fed creek, ...

A unit of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, the Tishomingo hatchery was established in 1929 and today encompasses 235 acres with 62 ponds holding 52 surface acres of water, three fish holding houses used primarily as nursery areas, four 20-foot diameter fiberglass circular tanks and six large concrete raceways. Hatchery raises paddlefish, catfish, alligator gar and alligator snapping turtles. Water for the hatchery is obtained by diverting water from Pennington Creek, where it flows through a mile-long canal to the many ponds and raceways. Being a spring-fed creek, it is a reliable source of clean water during times of drought. The creek has many waterfalls and granite rock outcroppings that are some of the oldest rock formations in the mid-continent region (over 1350 million years old). Our visitor center has aquariums, color photographic exhibits of the different culture techniques used, and aquatic ecosystem displays. A display pool with various species of fish, a scenic area with fishing access, a hiking trail and a historic functioning wooden water wheel are also on the grounds. Pennington Creek is a great public fishing site on the hatchery. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass and sunfish are also popular.