Spring Valley Trout Farm in Dexter Opens May 5

Spring Valley Trout Farm in Dexter started as a tiny pond on a 20-acre family farm and has grown into a thriving business that has brought joy to thousands of anglers, professional and novice alike.

Owner Jim Kaercher was just a boy in 1959 when his father purchased the farm from actor and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels’ father.

“My dad loved to fish,” Kaercher said of his father's dream to build a fish pond on the family farm.

Eleven years after he purchased the farm, Kaercher installed a well and stumbled across a small spring on his property, and Spring Valley Trout Farm was born. 

In its 43rd year of business, the farm boasts more than 200 visitors each day of the season, which spans from the first week in May until approximately Oct. 9 each year. 

The farm boasts a family-friendly park setting, complete with covered pavilions for parties and picnics as well as barbecue pits for visitors’ use, a kids’ play area and an authentic log cabin.

“We see about 5,000 kids on field trips. U.S. Rep. John Conyers' grandson caught his first fish on this farm,” Kaercher bragged. “This place is like the United Nations of fishing. Every culture in the world loves to fish, and they have all been here.”

The Kapusansky family of Dexter has been visiting the farm for many years.

“We have been fishing at Spring Valley for 10 years,” David Kapusansky said. “It is good clean fun and a great way to get out in nature."

Visitors can fish the well-stocked, pollution-free ponds for trout and catfish, and the farm guarantees everyone will catch something.

“We stock the ponds every week,” Kaercher said. “There is a minimum of 3,000 fish at any given time.”

Kaercher buys the trout when they are about four to six inches long.

“We keep them (young fish) until they are ready to be caught," he said.

All of the farm’s fish are fed high-quality ground herring from Nova Scotia. According to Kaercher, the fish consume approximately one ton of herring per month.

“Trout are the fussiest fish,” he said. “Our environment is perfect for growing them because we keep the water at the perfect temperature which is 56 degrees. Anything above 68 degrees and they are dead."

Kaercher said that foot traffic at the farm rises steadily every year, and when the doors open on May 5, he isn't worried about the lack of advertising.

“We have been blessed. People want fresh fish grown locally and at a reasonable price, and that's what we offer," he said.

Admission to the farm is $5 per person, which includes a cane pole, bait and full use of the picnic grounds. Children under 5 are free. Rainbow Trout are $6.39 per pound and catfish are $5.09 per pound.

Contact Spring Valley Trout Farm at 734-426-4772 for more information or to schedule a group visit.