The Lake Huron Fishing Club's Chinook Hatchery is located on Upper Ave in the town of Port Elgin. It was built in 1985. The construction was completed using only volunteer labour as are virtually all of the past and present LHFC projects. It continues to function under the watchful eye of club members who volunteer to staff the hatchery during its season of operation from September to May of each year.

At present the Chinook Hatchery returns some 250,000 Chinook smolts back into the Lake Huron area. As there is no Canadian government restocking of salmon into Lake Huron, this task has been assumed by the 4 club hatcheries which operate on the Canadian side of the Lake. The 40 or so volunteers who regularly staff the Port Elgin facility, regard this task with a sense of both pride and duty.

To arrange a personal tour for your group, write or E-mail us. See addresses below.

The operating season gears up in September when eggs are collected from returning salmon. The principal collection point is the Mill Dam in Owen Sound, on the Sydenham River. From there the eggs are returned to the Port Elgin facility for nurturing and hatching over the winter. By spring the smolts reach an average weight of 5 grams and are released into various tributaries of Lake Huron.

The average yearly cost of operating the Chinook Hatchery run to about $10,000 per year, $1000 of which is contributed by the MNR. All other funds are generated through donations, and mainly through the fund-raising activities of the club such as the annual Chantry Chinook Salmon Derby, the largest fishing derby on this side of Lake Huron.

The Lake Huron Fishing Club takes pride in both of their hatcheries. These facilities are operated by fishermen who feel that they should put at least one fish back for every fish they take out.

Phone: 519-389-4474