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Little Grassy Fish Hatchery is Illinois' warm-water hatchery. Located seven miles south of Carbondale, the hatchery utilizes water from Little Grassy Lake for fish production. The original facility began operation in 1959. Major expansion and renovation in 1979 allowed production to be increased to keep up with fish stocking demands.
Little Grassy is currently open to the public Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Walk-in visitors, as well as scheduled tour groups, are welcome. Scheduled tours can be adjusted to suit time constraints of visitors as well as the age group and knowledge base of visitors. Little Grassy Fish Hatchery is currently closed on weekends September-March and on state holidays that fall in the months of October-February. For information or reservations, please call: Little Grassy Fish Hatchery 618-529-4100.
The hatchery does not sell fish to the public; however, hatchery staff may be able to assist with stocking-related inquiries. Information about private fish dealers can be found at https://www.ifishillinois.org/programs/fish_dealers.pdf. Information about private pond management can be found at https://www.ifishillinois.org/programs/aquatic_mgmt.html. For further information about private pond management, you may contact your district fisheries biologist at : https://www.ifishillinois.org/FAQS/biologists.html.
Southern Illinois
1258 Hatchery Lane
Makanda
62958
37.651
-89.149
