Tomahawk Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Tomahawk Lake in the Oneida County part of Wisconsin. Everything around it is mixed forest. This is big water, about 5.5 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Size puts it in the front rank of our Oneida County list. Lac du Flambeau lies 15 miles from the water. Green Bay sits 121 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Tomahawk Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Oneida County: brown trout, walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of Tomahawk Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 9°F and July at about 66°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. At Tomahawk Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Inkwell Lake, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Tomahawk Lake are worth checking on the day.