Updated July 2026
Wisconsin Wakesurfing Rules
What the rule says
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.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The linked statute or agency page is the authority — wake-sport law is changing quickly in many states, so confirm there before you ride.
Statewide rules are the floor, not the whole picture
Individual lakes routinely add stricter limits on top of the state rule — no-wake zones, time-of-day windows, horsepower caps, and wider shoreline setbacks are all set locally by counties, lake districts, and land managers. Check the local authority for the specific water before launching.
Best-rated Wisconsin lakes
- ExcellentBig Eau Pleine Southeast Point Lake
- ExcellentChippewa Flowage -Moore'S Bay Lake
- ExcellentChippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake
- ExcellentChippewa Flowage -Pokegema Lake
- ExcellentChippewa Flowage -Winter Dam Lake
- ExcellentChippewa Flowage Lake
- ExcellentCity Millpond
- ExcellentFence Lake
- ExcellentFence Lake Deep
- ExcellentGeneva Lake
- ExcellentGeneva Lake Site B
- ExcellentGile Flowage Lake
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