Fishing at Lake Wissota, Chippewa County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Chippewa County, Lake Wissota is a Wisconsin water. It stands 886 feet above sea level. This is big water, about 7.5 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Of the waters listed here in Chippewa County, this is the largest. Lake Wissota is the closest place, 1.8 miles off. Chippewa Falls follows at 3.9 miles, then Lake Hallie at 8 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lake Wissota

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Chippewa County records list rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, largemouth bass and common carp among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Anyone new to Lake Wissota should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 11°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It holds true on Lake Wissota more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Glen Lock Lake is 4.2 miles distant. Rules at Lake Wissota are worth checking on the day.