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Wisconsin lakes

Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County Fishing

A 3,462-acre Wisconsin lake in Oneida County, down to 84 feet.

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Photo of Minocqua: Squirrel lake, CC BY-SA 4.0

Oneida County

Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County by the numbers

In Oneida County, Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County spreads over 3,462 acres of open water. Expect water as deep as 84 feet, with a mean of 33 feet. Lake Tomahawk lies about 4 miles from the lake. It is a Northern Region water for the WDNR. The DNR groups it as a complex two story lake.

The DNR musky layer includes it: natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2). The WDNR designated waters layer marks it as an Outstanding Resource Water. It lies in the ceded territory, where the walleye bag is three on each water. The DNR fish list names muskellunge, panfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike. There are 3 public boat landings on its shore. A 2017 satellite estimate puts clarity at 12.8 feet.

3,462acres
84 ftmaximum depth
3mapped landings
12.8 ftsatellite clarity
Directions to Tomahawk LakeWDNR Find a Lake page
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Fish

Fish populations in Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

Each species group in Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County carries a WDNR abundance word.

Fish groupWDNR abundance
MuskyCommon
PanfishCommon
Smallmouth BassCommon
WalleyeCommon
Largemouth BassPresent
Northern PikePresent

Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County musky status: natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).

How the DNR describes the Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County fishery

“Complex two story lakes are able to support coldwater species – primarily cisco, and occasionally lake trout or lake whitefish. They have the potential to produce action and quality walleye fisheries.”

Muskellunge Panfish Smallmouth bass Walleye Largemouth bass Northern pike

WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.

Landings

Boat landings on Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

  • Lake Tomahawk Park Boat Launch2 lanes, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Lake Tomahawk
  • Katherine-Tomahawk Channel Carry-in Access1 lane, Town of Hazelhurst
  • Tomahawk Lake – Tomahawk Road Access1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, NHAL Recreation Team Leader

Boat landings close to Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

  • Three Little Lakes Carry-In Boat LandingThree Litle Lakes, 2 miles east
  • Mid Lake AccessMid Lake, 2 miles northwest
  • Tomahawk Thoroughfare AccessTomahawk Thoroughfare, 2 miles northwest
  • Little Carr Lake AccessLittle Carr Lake, 2 miles southeast
  • Bird Lake Boat LandingBird Lake, 2 miles south
  • Zottle Lake Carry-In Boat LandingZottle Lake, 2 miles east

WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.

Water

What the water is like in Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

84 ftdeepest point
33 ftmean depth
12.8 ftsatellite clarity (2017)
drainagelake type
oligotrophictrophic status
2public parcels near shore

The DNR bottom survey for Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County lists 55% sand, 19% gravel, 21% rock, 5% muck.

WDNR types Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).

Invasives verified in Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, purple loosestrife, rusty crayfish and yellow iris. Leave the landing with an empty bilge and live well.

Ordinances in force on Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County: slow-no-wake areas, water exhibitions and races, houseboat regulations, littering, motorboat prohibition, water ski drop-off/pick-up area, jet skis.

WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.

Regulations

Fishing regulations for Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

Each row is the regulation the WDNR app prints for Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County.

SpeciesSeasonRule
Walleye, sauger and hybridsMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027A daily bag limit of one walleye that is at least 18 inches in length, but fish between 22 and 28 inches cannot be kept.
Muskellunge and hybridsMay 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open waterThe minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1.
Northern pikeMay 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
Largemouth and smallmouth bassJune 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
Largemouth bassMay 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
Smallmouth bassMay 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
PanfishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
CatfishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Lake sturgeonClosedNo fishing allowed.
Shovelnose sturgeonClosedNo fishing allowed.
Cisco and whitefishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
Rock, yellow and white bassOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
BullheadsOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
Rough fishOpen All YearNo minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.

Every species on Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County also falls under this note: Bag limits are for fish caught in all lakes in the MINOCQUA CHAIN including KAWAGUESAGA LAKE, LITTLE TOMAHAWK LAKE, MID LAKE, MINOCQUA LAKE, MUD LAKE Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.

From the Oneida County section of the guide: Oneida County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). With the exceptions below, Northern Bass Zone rules apply (see page 12). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (one hook, bait or lure per person; three lines maximum per boat).

For pike Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County is north of Hwy 10, and the Northern Bass Zone sets its bass dates.

WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.

All Wisconsin limitsWDNR regulation record
Stocking

Recent stockings at Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

Stocking records for Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County: 3 entries, 18,885 fish, years 2023 to 2025.

YearSpeciesSizeAvg lengthNumber
2025Muskellungelarge fingerling11.2 in735
2024Walleyelarge fingerling7.21 in17,287
2023Muskellungelarge fingerling11 in863

WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.

Compare

Lakes near Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County compared

LakeDistanceAcresMax depth ftLandingsWDNR class
Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County3,462843complex two story
Three Little Lakes, Oneida County2 miles east20271simple warm dark
Mid Lake2 miles north221121complex cool dark
Mud Lake near Lake Tomahawk, Oneida County2 miles south41260simple warm dark
Little Tomahawk Lake2 miles south163480complex two story
Zottle Lake2 miles east27381simple warm dark

WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.

Nearby

Around the area of Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

Lakes next door to Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

  • Three Little Lakes, Oneida County2 miles east
  • Mid Lake2 miles north
  • Mud Lake near Lake Tomahawk, Oneida County2 miles south
  • Little Tomahawk Lake2 miles south
  • Zottle Lake2 miles east

Minnows and tackle close to Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

  • Captain Hooksbait and tackle shop, Lake Tomahawk, 3 miles
  • Lt Bait Incbait and tackle shop, Lake Tomahawk, 3 miles
  • Rollie & Helens Musky Shopbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 3 miles
  • Sallet's Northwoods Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 4 miles
  • Kurts Island Sport Shopsporting goods store, Minocqua, 4 miles
  • Lets Go Fishin Nowbait and tackle shop, Minocqua, 4 miles

Guide trips around Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

Towns within reach of Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

  • Lake Tomahawk4 miles
  • Minocqua4 miles
  • Woodruff5 miles

Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County by county

  • Oneida Countyseat: Rhinelander
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Fish ID

Know the fish of Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

Smallmouth bass, Wisconsin
Smallmouth bass
Photo: ASprigOfFig at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Bluegill, Wisconsin
Bluegill
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Channel catfish, Wisconsin
Channel catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Lake sturgeon, Wisconsin
Lake sturgeon
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Answers

Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County: what Wisconsin anglers want to know

Which Wisconsin county is Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County in?

Look in Oneida County, WDNR Northern Region, about 4 miles from Lake Tomahawk.

How many acres does the WDNR give Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County?

3,462 acres of water and 84 feet at the deepest.

Can I back a trailer into Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County at a public landing?

3 mapped landings, led by Lake Tomahawk Park Boat Launch.

Which fish does the WDNR list for Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County?

On file: muskellunge (common), panfish (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common), largemouth bass (present) and northern pike (present).

What size limits apply on Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County?

Walleye, sauger and hybrids: A daily bag limit of one walleye that is at least 18 inches in length, but fish between 22 and 28 inches cannot be kept.

What does a nonresident pay to fish Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County?

Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.

How clear does the water in Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County run?

Satellite clarity about 12.8 feet (2017). Bottom: 55% sand, 19% gravel, 21% rock, 5% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.

Which bait counter sits closest to Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County?

Captain Hooks is about 3 miles from the lake.

When did WDNR crews last stock Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County?

WDNR stocked 735 muskellunge in 2025.

Hitch up the boat and haul it to Tomahawk Lake, Oneida County

The license page has every Wisconsin fee and season.

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