Wakesurfing on Lake Chetac North Basin

Lake Chetac North Basin rates Good for wakesurf suitability. Comfortably deep and sized for wakesurfing. The rating is based on its measured maximum depth of 26 ft and surface area of 2,400 acres. This is a read of the water's dimensions, not legal permission — check the Wisconsin rules and the local authority for this lake before you launch.

Lake Chetac North Basin reaches about 26 ft at its deepest point. Wake-boat research from the University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory finds that an enhanced wake needs deep water to dissipate rather than reflect off the bottom, which is why depth is one of the two factors in the suitability rating.

Lake Chetac North Basin carries a LakeQuality water-quality grade of C, computed from EPA and state monitoring data — Secchi clarity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a. That is a separate question from wakesurf suitability: a lake can be excellent to ride and mediocre to swim in, or the reverse. See the full lake page for the grade breakdown.

Wisconsin has no statewide wakesurfing-specific law as of mid-2026; competing bills remain unenacted. Proposals include AB 1033 (200/300-foot setback, no depth limit; Assembly-passed) and SB 1024 (500-foot setback and 20-foot depth). In the absence of statewide rules, towns have adopted local wake-surf bans (e.g., Lake Waramaug-style ordinances and Waupaca/Long Lake actions), some of which are being litigated. Limits are currently local/waterbody-specific. Individual lakes often add stricter local limits on top of the statewide rule — no-wake zones, operating hours, and horsepower caps are all common — so confirm with the local authority for Lake Chetac North Basin.