Lake Wissota

Lake Wissota is a reservoir in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, covering roughly 2,440 hectares with a maximum depth of around 22 meters. A residential peninsula splits the water into two sections, each bordered by wooded shorelines and dotted with private docks.

The Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power Company built a dam on the Chippewa River in 1917 to power the Wissota Hydroelectric Station. The rising water flooded farmland and small settlements, forming the body of water visible today.

Anglers gather here in early morning or at dusk, casting lines for bass, walleye, and crappie along the wooded shorelines. Families return each summer to cabin communities scattered around the water, launching boats from private docks and swimming near sandy patches.

Public boat launches and access points line the shores, making it easy to enter the water from different spots. Lake Wissota State Park offers campsites, trails, and restrooms for day visitors and overnight guests.

Engineer Louis G. Arnold coined the name Wissota in 1917 by blending parts of the words Wisconsin and Minnesota. This invented name was meant to symbolize the cooperation between the two states in generating electricity.

Location: Chippewa County

GPS coordinates: 44.94663,-91.32654

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29