Michigan DNR Collects 4.2 Million Steelhead Eggs After Lightning Strike

Somewhere in northern Michigan, Mother Nature apparently looked at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and said, "Nice fish hatchery operation you've got there... be a shame if something happened to it."

That "something" was a lightning strike on April 13 at the Little Manistee River Weir in Manistee County, just hours before steelhead egg collecting was set to begin.

Michigan DNR Collects 4.2 Million Steelhead Eggs

The strike knocked out the main power, backup power, and the alarm systems. In other words, every layer of "we should probably have a backup for this" got zapped at once. Despite the chaos, DNR staff scrambled like caffeinated anglers and successfully collected about 4.2 million steelhead eggs, enough to supply Michigan hatcheries for future fish stocking across the state.

Get our free mobile app

Roughly 2.2 million eggs came from the Little Manistee facility, while another 2 million were collected using the Lower Platte River in Benzie County, which was pressed into emergency service for the first time as the backup source.

Michigan Steelhead Stocking Still on Track

The original goal was 4.6 million eggs, but fisheries managers say Michigan's needs were fully met. That means future steelhead anglers can breathe a sigh of relief and stop drafting angry letters to the fish.

RELATED: Spearfishing Now Open Across Michigan’s Great Lakes

The DNR went on to say in a press release that there will be no lasting impact to the fishery, proving once again that in Michigan, even when lightning strikes, we still find a way to make sure the fish are biting.