Tomahawk Lake
Bayfield County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2501700
Size
134 acres
Max depth
42 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Cool, clear water color
Water clarity
12 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2023
A cool-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that stay cooler through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1984), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
12 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 23, 2023. 72 readings on record, 2000 to 2023.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 13.4 ft, clear, from 10 readings (2012 to 2023).
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station Tomahawk Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 23 (Apr 16 to Apr 29)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 5 (Apr 25 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 24 (May 17 to May 27)
- June surface71°F, usually 69 to 72°F
- July surface76°F, usually 75 to 77°F
- August surface73°F, usually 72 to 74°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 4, lasting about 164 days.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1972 to 2004; 3 records
- Blacknose Shiner Notropis heterolepis2004; 1 record
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1961 to 2004; 12 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2004; 3 records
- Central Mudminnow Umbra limi1972 to 2004; 3 records
- Cisco Coregonus artedi1972; 2 records
- Common Shiner Luxilus cornutus1972; 1 record
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas1962 to 2004; 3 records
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus1972 to 2004; 6 records
- Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum2004; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1961 to 2004; 12 records
- Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus2004; 3 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1972 to 2004; 4 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1962 to 2004; 7 records
- Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax1961 to 1972; 3 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris2004; 1 record
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu1962 to 1972; 3 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus2004; 1 record
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1961 to 1972; 5 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis2004; 2 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1961 to 2004; 10 records
Recorded in open fish survey and museum records (GBIF). A record shows a fish was found near this lake in that year, not that it is there now, and says nothing about how many. Most coordinates are rounded to about 1 km, so a record is attached only when one lake is the clear match.
Open fish survey and museum records from GBIF; datasets are listed on the sources page. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Boat landings
- 1Tomahawk Lake AccessBoat ramp · Gravel surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Bayfield County
- Sand Bar Lake0.6 miles away
- Priest Lake0.7 miles away
- Little Island Lake0.8 miles away
- Turtle Lake0.9 miles away
- George Lake1.3 miles away
- Ole Lake1.6 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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