Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery

Very educational stop and with the historic rainfall we’ve had on this trip it was so cool to learn so much about the dam and the river. The people were super friendly and seeing the different animals and trout hatchery. Just an overall amazing cool experience and seeing the flood waters affecting everything. We came on the day the long standing record of overflow from the river is getting way surpassed the hatchery was working on saving the trout bunch of stuff was under water. This is just amazing seeing these people in action in a great flood. Super neat stop suggest coming down even on a nice day this is amazing! Also, it’s free and very kid friendly!

I like this fish hatchery below the Table Rock Dam. They have raised many trouts here including rainbow and brown trout.
When they are certain size, they are to be released to Lake Taneycomo. The compound has education building that you can learn about the hatchery. The tour is at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm. You will see the smaller fish at settling pool. Then they are move to outlet pool. It is a sight see thousands of fish in one pool. They have a steel wire net covering on top of each pool to avoid the energetic fish jump out the pool.
There is a fish ladder you can see the fish fight to go up stream. The outlet spillway has many fish fighting the current and sit on it. At the point of outlet, there are many people fly fishing. It is almost guarantee a catch if you are there. Many of them catch and release. Nice fishing area for guarantee success. I would recommend to fish here if it is your first time. We can count 37 fishermen in this lake at the one spot.

Went here on a whim one day with the kids, and had ourselves a great time. Very informational,

Best free thing to do in Branson! (And it’s better than a lot of things that aren’t free.) At this beautiful location below the dam, the State of Missouri raises fish to be released into local waterways. A small visitor center offers displays about Missouri flora and fauna, several cases containing small animals like turtles and snakes, pamphlets about fishing and hunting, and clean bathrooms. The staff gives tours and is well prepared to answer questions. But my favorite part is feeding the fish. (The required fish food is available from dispensers on the property.) I always go prepared with a disposable cup and a pocket full of quarters and can spend 1 – 2 hours wandering, watching, and tossing kibble to the eager fishes.

This place was good, looking are fish and information fishing in Missouri!!! We went there last weekend!!! They have a a lot of fish there… A place to visit is recommend!!!

Pros: free, self-​guided or guided tour available, great views of the dam, and ability to feed the fish.
Cons: crowded guided tour = difficulty hearing, even with mic., info provided is no different from placards. Not very interesting unless you are an avid fisher. It held our attention for about 15 minutes.
Worth a quick stop, without following a guide because it’s free and relatively close to other attractions.

great place to go for a side trip. Feed the fish, learn about how they grow, how to tell male from female, and how they are released into the lake. Thousands of fish to see.

If you find yourself in Branson… GO SEE THE FISH at the hatchery.
Very educational, take the time to watch the 8 minute film about what really happens here. Who knew so much went into raising trout.

Very interesting place to visit. We fed the trout only a quarter. We would recommend this to everyone.

Excellent place for the family — and it’s FREE!!! I do not fish (husband does though) and he really wanted to go to this place. BLAH, I gave in and went with him. Sure glad I did. It was very interesting. Loved the nature trails as well. If we ever get back to Branson, this place is a must stop!

This place was free and my 3-​year-​old loved it! I even had fun feeding the fish. Bring something to put the fish food in though, hands are not sufficient. Also, the staff was excellent!

We visit the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery every time we come to Branson.
It is free. Don’t touch the poison ivy by the front door as you walk in. At least watch the kiddos. It is labeled well and meant to be an educational exhibit.
Bring quarters if you want to feed the fish and a spare cup to hold the fish food as you walk from tank to tank.
They do sell fishing permits here as well!
The center plays a movie every hour about the hatchery. On weekends they also have craft exhibits, ie. you can make your own birdhouse.
Awesome place to bring the kids. 3 short hiking trails.
You can also fish on the grounds but only with artificial lures or flies due to its proximity to the dam.

For sure worth the trip to visit.
The lobby has pamphlets on all information regarding fishing in Missouri. They even have one with recipes.
They raise brown and rainbow trout for the state of Missouri to stock all of the lakes. I did not know it but brown trout and rainbow trout were introduced to Missouri from California. They thrive in colder water and you can fish for them all year here. Mthe hatchery raises and releases about 800,00o per year into Lake Taneycomo.
The hatchery at Sheperd Hills Is the largest trout-​rearing facility by the Misouri Department of conservation. It is located just below Table Rock Dam.
The hatchery includes a conversation center, where the public can learn about trout culture, aquatic life, fishing, and the Missouri Department of Conservation’s role in aquatic resource management. The center is open free of charge.
Trails are available near the hatchery for hiking and wildlife viewing. There is also fishing access.
Correction. 80 percent of the fish hatched here go into Lake Taneycomo.
Things to do threes.
They have exhibits that describe trout spawning, egg development and rearing techniques. Other nature-​related exhibits are there too and quite interesting.
They have. A huge tank of rainbow and brown trout that are huge. I could not believe the size of them. One was over 20 lbs. a lot are close to it.
They have turtles, snakes etc. they have a dead Armadillo on display. They call them speed bumps. Imsaw so many on the way up to Missouri on the side of the road dead. Many alive crossing the roads. They are quite big.
They have an interesting 12 minute film presentation and will answer any questions you might have after.
They also have guided tours from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You would not find me in Branson during the summer. It is crowded now. I could not imagine the crowds.
Kids would enjoy this too.

We had a good time feeding the fish here. Just a few quarters make an afternoon of fun. I liked the 12 minute informational video on how the hatchery works. Pretty cool to watch before heading to see and feed the fish.

OK, sometimes the best things in life aren’t free, but are a rather sad and boring way to spend your day! Unless of course you have children with endless curiosity. Then it becomes much more interesting as they delight in the discovery of anything new.
I’m cool with all things environmental. The original purpose for the nearby dam was for flood control, but it in turn created an ideal environment for trout and other big mouth fish. Sheppard of the Hills Fish Hatchery ensures ample population of fish, therefore making Lake Taneycomo (downstream from the Dam) a popular fishing destination.

The set-​up is simple. You walk in through a small visitors building that gives you a brief description of the purpose of the hatchery. There are guided tours or you can venture off on your own. You’ll then walk out to see large rectangular pools of water that house Trout at different stages of their development from small hatchlings to almost ready to release. There are lots of fish in these tanks, some of them look a little mutant as it appears they have been eating each others limbs. In order to keep oxygen levels in the water adequate, aerator systems are located at the end of each tank.
The kids really enjoyed the fish feeding frenzy which looks something like fight club when the pellets hit the surface of the water. It’s sort of crazy how much this entertains kids, especially the younger ones. Did I mention It’s free? Well, except for the .25 cent handfuls of fish food. It’s a great inexpensive way to fill up some time with your kids between all of the other activities available to see and do in Branson. Be sure to take a drive over the dam and stop at the overlook for some great pics!
Enjoy :-)

I love feeding the fish here. Several hours of amusement for a couple of bucks in quarters. The volunteers in the center are friendly and knowledgeable.
Kids would love this…

Been here three times and still get impressed by it all. Now that the new visitors center is open on the other side of the dam it is a great way to spend part of your day around Table Rock Lake and Branson.

One of the few free attractions in Branson! They have free tours 3 times every weekday as well as an interpretive center that will explain the process of fish breeding. You can buy feed for a quarter and see the trout jumping around like piranhas in a horror movie! They release 800,000 trout into Lake Taneycomo and other area waters every year! This is fun for little kids and still interesting for grownups.

Always FREE. Always entertaining. Great for kids. First :30 guided tour starts I believe at 10.
Bring quarters for the fish food machines and watch them swarm like crazy! Its a perfect short diversion stop coupled with dam tour or visit to Table Rock Lake.