Kubisiak is quick to point out that the upside of the struggling fishery is that there is a higher percentage of bigger walleyes. Tomahawk may not be the place to stock up on fish fillets, but it can provide some trophy-class fishing.

The lake is stocked to supplement the occasionally strong year-classes resulting from natural reproduction. The last time walleyes produced a strong year-class was in 2000 and those fish are averaging just over 20 inches today.

Tomahawk is big and cold. During many years, at least a few of the ‘eyes are still spawning after the opening weekend. That makes for a tough bite, Kubisiak said, but there’s the chance at a heavy egg-laden female.

Walleyes are somewhat lethargic right after the spawn, but the fishing usually picks up a week or two later as they switch back into the feeding mode. Fish tend to be relatively shallow and near the weed edges or rock structure.

Kubisiak usually does well in May with a slip-bobber and either a minnow or a jig-and-minnow combination.

The town of Lake Tomahawk’s Choate Boulevard ramp charges a small fee to launch. The Indian Mounds State Park campground requires a state park sticker or a daily entrance fee. The Thoroughfare Road launch is free.

Tomahawk covers 3,392 acres in Oneida County.

For more information, contact the West Central Region’s office in Rhinelander at (715) 365-8900.

LAKE ARBUTUS
Lake Arbutus is the top bet in fisheries biologist Dan Hatleli’s management area. Other waters like Lake Wazee in Johnson County and Mead Lake in Clark County finish close seconds.

“Lake Arbutus is the largest lake in my area at 840 acres,” Hatleli said. “I wouldn’t consider it a walleye hotspot and the lake’s been drawn down about 5 to 7 feet for dam repairs, but fall surveys are finding plenty of evidence of natural reproduction.”

Historically, the lake hasn’t been the best spot to wet a line for walleyes, but it is improving. The larger fish usually head up either the main or east forks of the Back River in search of better food sources, habitat and spawning areas, but according to Hatleli, the boom in panfish reproduction over the last couple of years has made the lake a better all-around walleye fishery. More walleyes are remaining in Lake Arbutus or returning to the lake from the river to take advantage of the increased forage base.

The 15-inch minimum length limit and blossoming food supply means the fishing for big walleyes is going to be good.

“The best tip is to fish the Black River upstream and downstream of Arbutus after the opener,” Hatleli said. “Anglers wanting to focus on Arbutus itself should fish where the river channels enter the impoundment early in the season and then on the typical dropoffs and deeper areas associated with some type of submerged structure. Motor trolling is allowed on Arbutus, so you can cover a lot of territory.”

Lake Arbutus lies in Clark and Jackson counties northwest of Black River Falls.

Nearby Lake Wazee has some nice walleyes in it but is tough to fish. The lake is an old iron mine pit that is 350 feet deep. Mead Lake’s walleye population is similar to Arbutus and is supplemented with approximately 11,000 walleye fingerlings bi-annually. Try the deeper outside edges of remaining weedbeds early in the season.

The boat ramp for Arbutus is on the southern end of the lake off K Road in Russell Memorial Park.

For more information, contact the West Central Region at (715) 839-3700.