Hatchery Facts

Established

1950

  Address

                              475 Banner Springs Road                           

                                                Erwin, TN 37650                                                              

                                 (423)743-4842                                               

Personnel

David E. Lane: Hatchery Manager                   

                    Rick Hollifield: Wildlife Technician II                  

  Richard Markland: Wildlife Technician I

Geographic Area

7 counties in Northeast Tennessee

(Johnson, Sullivan, Carter, Unicoi, Washington, Greene, Cocke)

Hatchery Location:  Located within the city limits of Erwin, TN in beautiful Unicoi County, the Erwin State Fish Hatchery is a coldwater trout hatchery/rearing station consisting of two sections of concrete outdoor raceways.  The hatchery can be reached by taking Exit 15 off of I-26 and traveling east on Jackson-Love Highway for 1.6 miles.  The hatchery building and raceways sit to the left, just off of Jackson-Love Highway on Banner Springs Road.

Hatchery History:  The Erwin State Fish Hatchery was constructed under the old Tennessee Game & Fish Commission in 1950.  Several renovations to the fish rearing layout have been undertaken during subsequent years, with the present configuration of 14 - 100’ x 6’ concrete sections being constructed in 1976.

Hatchery Operations:  Rainbow trout fingerlings (4 – 5 inches) are brought to the hatchery each spring from Buffalo Springs State Hatchery, near Rutledge, TN.  These fish are reared, fed, and cared for until the following spring when they are stocked out into over 20 different streams in northeast Tennessee.  Each year we received approximately 100,000 fingerlings, of which, about 80,000 are used for our spring stocking.  Our adult rainbow trout stocking season runs from mid-February through mid-June, sometimes later if we have extra fish.  The other 20,000 or so rainbow fingerlings are stocked out in the fall and winter in our delayed harvest section of Paint Creek, small streams, and some reservoirs and tail waters. 

Our adult fish are between 10 – 14 inches when stocked and weigh between on half and a pound apiece. The adult fish spring weekly stocking schedule is available in the TWRA Fishing regulations brochure or in the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.  Additionally, each winter we hatch from eggs several thousand brown trout. The eggs are provided by the Saratoga National Hatchery, located in Wyoming.  These trout are stocked as fingerlings into several different streams and tail waters.

Additional Information:  Erwin State Fish Hatchery is located in the city of Erwin, Tennessee on Banner Springs Road.  Traveling on I-26, take Exit 15, go east (towards Erwin) for 1.6 miles.  The hatchery building and raceways sit to the left.  The hatchery is in operation 7 days per week.  Visitors are welcome Monday-Friday 7:30AM-4:30PM, except holidays.  For individuals or groups desiring a personalized tour or wanting to visit the hatchery on weekends or holidays, please call the hatchery at 423-743-4842.  

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Erwin State Trout Hatchery

Hatchery Operations