Brown trout eggs are taken during a winter spawn. This process is done in the spawning building, a facility specially designed for this purpose. Fertilized eggs are then moved to the hatchery building and placed in egg jars. Eggs are supplied with a continual flow of cold water. In two weeks, eyes will develop and in one month the eggs hatch and are called sac fry.
Small trout continue to grow and are fed a commercially processed trout food.
After 15 months of meticulous care, 10-inch trout are ready for stocking in Lake Taneycomo. Water to operate the hatchery flows from the lower level of Table Rock Lake through an 18-inch pipeline, delivering approximately 14 million gallons of water per day. Well water is used to supplement this lake water inside the hatchery building. Area Features Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery lies in the historic and biologically rich White River Valley. Trails on the hatchery grounds lead visitors through a variety of natural settings, from the shoreline of Lake Taneycomo to the high rocky bluffs overlooking the famed White River.