Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery

06/03/2026

This is a rain or shine event.

Fish limit:

Main Derby Pond - 2 fish per adult and child

Secondary derby pond - unlimited fish until their coolers s are full including ice.

Hey Folks! 🤗 We're back at it again with our National FREE Fishing Day! 🐟 We hope to see y'all there! 🙂‍↕️

If y'all have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

UPDATE: 11AM!! (NOT PM OBVIOUSLY LOL)

05/31/2026

Turtles have no ears?

05/08/2026

Check out this cool video as our Assistant Project Leader Bailey Gaines goes more in depth on what the staff here at Inks Dam NFH does 🙂‍↕️

05/08/2026

Be ready all you bird watchers.

🌏 Saturday, May 9th is World Migratory Bird Day! 🦆

DYK- Fall Flights investments create real benefits for bird watchers, communities, and the economy.

DYK that bird Global Flyways are like superhighways in the sky! Billions of migratory birds use these routes to take them to and from their breeding grounds.🗺️
The Americas flyway is the most species-rich of all terrestrial flyways. It hosts over 600 migratory bird species across more than 56 different countries from Tierra del Fuego in Southern Argentina up to the Arctic Circle. 🌏

04/21/2026

"We've had at least one monarch pass through the Pollinator Garden!
Haven't found any eggs, but found one 3rd instar this morning."
Jerry Stacy

A 3rd instar is a growth stage in insects like caterpillars or larvae. It happens between their second and third times shedding their skin (molting). During this stage, they grow quickly, and in some species—like Monarch caterpillars—their stripes and tentacles become more noticeable. Scientists often use this stage to help identify different species.

03/26/2026

On March 24th, the Hatchery had their first ever Mussel Dissection Class for the Marble Falls APES Seniors 🤗

Lead Biologist Jacqualyn Halmbacher created this opportunity for the Seniors around the Hill Country Area, and Marble Falls ISD Seniors were the first to get that experience 🎉 Jacqualyn was also able to make this class surrounding the TEKS curriculum that the students are learning about in the classroom. This helps the students have an idea of what is to come in their next APES class learning subject 📝

That day we had 50 students at the Hatchery learning all about what the Hatchery does and how we help these Mussels and why they are Endangered. We also had 17 Volunteers show up and give a BIG helping hand to the Hatchery staff on this busy day 😁

We hope the students learned something new that day and that they had some fun! 🤗 We appreciate everyone that showed up 🫡

Below are some thank you's from students that were here that day (which we really appreciate 🙂‍↕️)

1) "Thank you Inks Hatchery and to all of the amazing people that taught us all about our water, Mussels, and guiding us through the dissection."

2) "Thank you so much for allowing us to visit and for teaching us about the Endangered Freshwater Mussels and how Inks Hatchery operates. I enjoyed all the hands-on activities and learning about the different operations for endangered species in our area."

3) " Thank y'all for protecting endangered species."

4) "Thank you for having us! The dissection was really interesting and I learned a lot of information about Mussels that I wasn't aware of."

5) ""Thank you for allowing me and the rest of my class to explore a little bit about freshwater mussels and be able to create one of my own, as well as dissect a real one. It was also fun to get to learn some facts about them and their environment. I really enjoyed being able to tour the grounds around the lake where they feed the catfish. My favorite part was learning about the lifecycle of catfish and how they are able to reproduce and eat."

03/16/2026

Thank you U S Fish and Wildlife Service.

Happy birthday to the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Back in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside a small island in Florida called Pelican Island to protect nesting birds. That one decision kicked off what would become a nationwide network of protected lands dedicated to wildlife.

Today, the Refuge System includes more than 570 national wildlife refuges across the United States. These places protect critical habitat for birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants, while also giving people a chance to connect with the outdoors.

Check out these numbers. National wildlife refuges receive:

🦌2.63 million annual hunting visits
🐟8.61 million annual fishing visits
🚶‍➡️4,197 miles of public trails and boardwalks, water and snow included
🚗7,352 lane miles of public roads

From quiet marshes and coastal estuaries to sweeping prairies and desert landscapes, these lands were set aside for wildlife, but they also welcome people who want to recreate, hunt, fish, photograph wildlife, and explore.

Happy birthday to the refuges.

Photo of an American avocet and chick at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge National by Jean Zuo (sharetheexperience)

03/13/2026

Hey Folks! 🤗 We're back at it again with our National FREE Fishing Day! 🐟 We hope to see y'all there! 🙂‍↕️

If y'all have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

UPDATE: 11AM!! (NOT PM OBVIOUSLY LOL)

03/11/2026

On Feb. 12th the Hatchery staff had a VERY MUDDY day (but we aren't surprised at this point). The reason for this Harvest was so that they could drain out the derby pond (5B) and be able to fix this pond up for future uses. Our derby pond has been used for broodstock catfish but as the years go by the pond starts deteriorating and that causes issues for the catfish and for the staff. All the Channel Catfish that we got were moved to neighboring ponds. 🐟

We also had some amazing volunteers (even a furry lil one) that day that tackled on this muddy job. We always appreciate the Friends members that come volunteer and others that join to help out the staff. 🫡 This also gives them the opportunity to experience and have some hands on fun with the staff. 🤗

03/07/2026

Freshwater Mussel dissection training at Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery. Participating were Pat Campbell and Krista Paul as well as other volunteers in training.
Photos by Krista Paul