Behind The Scenes At Grove Trout Rearing Station

Steve Wilhelm giving a tour to professors from UNL.

A few miles northeast of Royal lies a safe haven for rainbow trout. The beautiful grounds of Grove Trout Rearing Station have been attracting visitors for decades.

"I think the big draw for most people is feeding the fish," said Fish Production Manager Steve Willhelm, "thats really a fascination for a lot of people."

Wilhelm has been on the station since 1998 and has years  of experience working with fish.

"I've done it for long enough that I'm used to it, but I can see why it's interesting," Willhelm said, "They're so aggressive when you feed them. They come up and splash and get the kids wet."

Grove has been raising fish here since 1961. It is owned and operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and is the state’s only facility strictly for trout rearing. 

Fish are fed a daily diet calculated for optimal growth, which often means feeding multiple times a day. Oxygen levels and water temperatures are monitored continuously, which requires technicians to live on site. 

According to Wilhelm, "They do best with water temperatures in the 50s, but they can survive water temperatures up into the 60s and even 70s, but they don't grow as well."

The trout are hatched at Calamus State Fish Hatchery in Burwell and are transferred here at 3.5 inches long where they remain for at least six months. At ten inches long they are ready for stocking.

"There's several streams that we stock in the Panhandle and around here. The East Verdigre Creek we stock on a regular basis," said Wilhelm.

In the video, fish are being stocked from the cement raceways. A technique called crowding, pushes the fish to the far side. The fish are then netted weighed and loaded into the tank, which is located in the back of the truck. Each fish is counted and their average weight are calculated. Then the trout are ready to be released in the wild. 

The professionals at Grove not only have a unique career, but they love what they do.

"I do like my job," Wilhelm said, "largely because I'm working outside. I have a hard time sitting inside."

Working on a facility such as this is a rare opportunity that allows the technicians to pursue their love of fish. 

"It's hard to believe sometimes that you can get a job doing this," Willhelm said.

Led Henery may only be a temporary fisheries technician at Grove, but his summer work experience has been a positive one.

"I'd say what I like most about my job is being outdoors and getting to work with fish every single day," Henery said.

He also appreciates the experienced men he works with. 

"I've got a great group of guys to work with out here," Henery said, "Steve and Joe have been on with the Game and Parks for 25-30 years and Dennis has been on this facility for 40 years alone."

With it’s spring fed ponds and well groomed grounds, Grove is an attraction for many. Fish feeders are on site and for a quarter you can get a handful of food. Their facility is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m for visitors from school groups to families and even college professors. 

There’s nothing like watching a few hundred rainbow trout splashing for food in a crystal clear stream, so make sure you bring plenty of quarters.

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