In the late 1880’s the U.S. Department of the Interior sent a representative to the Upper Mississippi River to locate a suitable site for fish culture. On August 18, 1894 the present 25 acre site was donated by local citizens. By an act of Congress, acquisition and development was authorized and $15,000 was appropriated for hatchery construction. The original hatchery was constructed in 1896 and the first trout were produced in 1897. In the late 1950’s the hatchery was completely renovated to what presently exists at a cost of $250,000. All tolled, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supplied trout to Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana from the Manchester Facility from the years of 1897 through 1976. In 1976 the Fish and Wildlife Service traded the facility to the Iowa Conservation Commission (currently the Iowa Department of Natural Resources) and we have used it since.

The Manchester Fish Hatchery is Iowa's cold water brood stock facility. The hatchery is primarily responsible for supplying between 400,000 to 500,000 fingerling rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout to the Big Spring and Decorah rearing facilities. The hatchery is also responsible for raising catchable-size fish for stocking into thirteen streams and one impoundment.

Several hundred 2-20 pound brood trout are kept at the hatchery to provide eggs and milt for the development of new fish. Brook and brown trout eggs are taken during October and November, while rainbow trout spawn in January. Approximately one-half million eggs are taken each year to provide catchable-sized fish for Iowa's 30,000 trout anglers. After hatching, the fry are raised for four to five months in tanks inside the hatchery building. Upon reaching a length of two to four inches, the fingerlings are transferred to the Big Spring and Decorah hatcheries where they are raised for the next year until they reach a catchable size of 10 to 12 inches. The streams in Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson counties are stocked from Manchester.

In addition, the facility serves as the Northeastern Office for the DNR Fisheries and Law Enforcement sections. Office hours are from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The grounds are open to the public for fish viewing and fishing on Spring Branch Creek from sunrise to sunset every day. Group guided tours are available upon request and the facility is handicap accessible except for restrooms.