Walleye fingerling stocking wrapped up with Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery at Riverdale setting a record with just short of 12 million fingerlings produced.

Distribution trucks traveled more than 12,000 miles over a two-week period to stock the fish, according to Jerry Weigel, North Dakota Game and Fish Department fish production/development section supervisor.

When combined with fingerling production from Valley City National Fish Hatchery, 177 waters were stocked, providing a great boost in developing future fishing prospects across the state.

While producing nearly 12 million walleye fingerlings is significant for the one hatchery, Garrison Dam and Valley City National Fish Hatchery combined efforts in 2017 to produce more than 12 million fingerlings.

Each spring, walleye eggs are collected by fisheries personnel and taken to Garrison Dam and Valley City national fish hatcheries where they are hatched. After hatching, the walleye fry are stocked into production ponds and after a month of growth, 1-inch or more fingerlings are collected and stocked across the state.