August, 1918 
FOREST AND STREAM 
489 
entire length may be negotiated in six or 
seven hours’ paddling. There is an excel¬ 
lent camp site on the high knoll to the left 
of the creek at its junction with the river. 
Lower Kaubachein offers good bass and 
wall-eyed pike fishing, and Kaubachein 
creek is a favorite resort for bass and 
great northern pike. Many rather large 
fish may be caught in this stream at times. 
It is also a favorite haunt for the smaller 
ducks and if one makes the trip in the 
spring of the year he will have the pleas¬ 
ure of seeing many broods of young wild 
fowl in the shallows and small back waters 
along the shores. The thoroughfare be¬ 
tween Minocqua and Tomahawk lakes is 
a favorite feeding ground for muskies and 
many large fish are caught here each year. 
Should these fish be taking the lure at the 
time one visits in this neighborhood one 
might profitably spend a day or two on this 
connecting body of water in quest of these 
big fish. There are a number of good re¬ 
sorts scattered along both sides of the thor¬ 
oughfare and if one prefers there are nu¬ 
merous good sites where he may camp. 
A S shown on the accompanying map, 
the Tomahawk river is reached from 
Minocqua by following the north 
shore of the lake until the dam is reached. 
The river, even just below the dam, is wide 
and navigable for canoes. At ordinary 
stages of the water there will be found no 
serious obstructions. 
From the source of the Tomahawk to 
the mouth of the Squirrel river there is a 
delightful paddle. The current is fairly 
rapid, the shores well wooded and there is 
much wild life to delight the eyes. Chip¬ 
munks, ducks of many species, porcupines, 
pine squirrels, coots, loons, ruffed grouse 
and occasionally a deer will be seen. Bass 
fishing is exceptionally good on this stretch 
of water in season. Other game fish are 
also numerous and trout may be taken in 
the small streams entering the river. De¬ 
sirable camp sites are not difficult to find. 
The mouth of the Squirrel river may be 
easily distinguished. It is the first stream 
of any considerable size that will be en¬ 
countered entering the Tomahawk from 
the west. It is about fifty yards wide at 
its mouth. This stream may be reached 
the first day out, but I would advise that 
no haste be shown on these first stages of 
the trip. The cruise is not a long one and 
the man who has two weeks to spend in 
the woods will have plenty of time in 
which to cover the route. Take it easy 
until your muscles gradually become hard¬ 
ened to the work. If you come to a good 
camp site during the latter part of the 
afternoon do not pass it, for it may be that 
you will be unable to find as good a one 
later on. 
In its days it is probable that the Squir¬ 
rel river carried millions of feet of logs 
to the mills on the lower stretches of the 
Tomahawk river. The banks and bottom 
of the stream are strewn with timbers that 
became stranded or water logged on their 
journey. 
The current of the Squirrel is sluggish 
and it is an easy stream to paddle against. 
In but two or three places on its lower 
stretches are there shallow places, and even 
these will offer no difficulties at ordinary 
stages of the water. At no place is the 
stream very deep; in fact one is able to 
touch bottom with the paddle practically 
everywhere and to feel the great pine logs 
with which it is carpeted. 
The stream meanders a great deal, and 
for long distances the banks are low and 
marshy. For this reason camping sites are 
not plentiful close to the stream. One 
very good location for a camp lies on the 
north bank, about three hours’ paddle from 
the Tomahawk. The place is easily recog¬ 
nized. Two or three large boulders rear 
their heads above the water at this point 
and on the bank are the remains of log¬ 
gers’ handiwork in the shape of rotting 
skidways. A large hill comes close to the 
stream, from the top of which a beautiful 
view of the surrounding country may be 
obtained. Should you climb to its top, take 
pains to notice the large hill at a great dis¬ 
tance in the west. This baby mountain is 
easily the most striking feature of the land¬ 
scape, and will be in sight practically all 
of the remainder of the paddle up the 
river. As you gaze on it the thought prob¬ 
ably will come to you that it stands on the 
shores of Squirrel lake. You will find out 
later whether or not it does. 
1 WISH to warn the canoeist not to 
pass any good camping site he may 
come to late in the afternoon while on 
the lower reaches of the stream. Desirable 
locations on which to pitch a tent are not 
numerous and if the voyager delays too 
long he may have to undergo the unenvi¬ 
able experience of finding a site and mak¬ 
ing camp in the dark. This precaution 
need not be observed to the same degree 
on the upper stretches. The country in 
this region is better wooded and the banks 
are not so marshy. 
With the exception of a low log bridge 
occasionally the canoeist will meet no ob¬ 
structions on this stream until he is within 
a mile or a mile and one-half below the 
dam at the foot of Squirrel lake. From 
this point to the lake it will be necessary 
for him to wade and to drag his craft after 
him. However, this distance is soon cov¬ 
ered and the inconvenience undergone is 
soon forgotten when the beauties of Squir¬ 
rel lake appear. 
From all appearances the Squirrel river 
should be an excellent bass stream. How¬ 
ever, I have been able to catch but a few 
of these fish in this water. The stream is 
alive with great northern pike and anyone 
who cares to can catch large numbers of 
these fish when the conditions are right. 
They will run from four to ten pounds in 
weight, but quite frequently much larger 
ones will be hooked. The entire distance 
from the mouth of the river to Squirrel 
lake may be covered in two days of easy 
paddling, with allowances made for stops 
from time to time to try the fishing. This 
allows full enjoyment of the cruise. 
