Lake Chetac Fishing
A 2,400-acre Wisconsin lake in Sawyer County, down to 26 feet.
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Lake Chetac, the essentials
Lake Chetac covers 2,400 acres in Sawyer County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 26 feet, with a mean of 14 feet. Groceries and gas are in Birchwood, around 4 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. In the DNR lake classification it is complex cool dark.
The DNR walleye layer lists recruitment as stocking plus natural reproduction. It is a ceded territory lake for walleye limits. WDNR lists largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish, smallmouth bass and walleye for it. Boaters use 2 public boat landings. Clarity from satellite data averages 4.7 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Lake Chetac as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Abundant |
| Northern Pike | Abundant |
| Panfish | Abundant |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
| Walleye | Present |
On Lake Chetac the walleye source is stocking plus natural reproduction.
Fishery outlook for Lake Chetac by class
“Complex cool dark lakes can often support quality or action walleye fisheries, and can have great action fisheries for yellow perch, and have the potential to produce quality northern pike and muskellunge fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Putting in on Lake Chetac
- Lake Chetac Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Town of Edgewater
- Lake Chetac Public Access1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Property Manager
Nearby ramps for Lake Chetac
- Knuteson Lake AccessKnuteson Lake, 2 miles southeast
- Green Lake Access near BirchwoodGreen Lake, 2 miles north
- Sawmill Lake Boat RampSawmill Lake, 4 miles northwest
- Doolittle Park Boat RampBirch Lake, 4 miles southwest
- Bridge Lake RampBridge Lake, 4 miles northwest
- Camp Lake AccessCamp Lake, 4 miles northwest
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Lake Chetac clarity and bottom
Bottom makeup at Lake Chetac: 25% sand, 10% gravel, 15% rock, 50% muck.
Lake Chetac is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
The DNR lists banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, japanese mystery snail and rusty crayfish as invasive species in Lake Chetac. Never move live bait or water from it.
Posted ordinances for Lake Chetac address speed limits (mph), water skiing restrictions, slow-no-wake areas.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Lake Chetac
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Lake Chetac, season by season.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25, but only 10 can be bluegill. |
| Bluegill | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 10. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
General WDNR note for Lake Chetac: Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Sawyer County note in the guide: Sawyer County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). For all lakes and flowages that are also partially within Washburn County, largemouth and smallmouth bass of any length may be kept. A portion of Sawyer County is in the Northern Bass Zone (see base regulations on page 12). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Lake Chetac on its north side; bass rows follow the Northern or Southern Bass Zone (the county is split; see the guide map).
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
WDNR hatchery releases in Lake Chetac
From 2024 through 2024 the DNR logged 1 stockings in Lake Chetac totaling 23,993 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.9 in | 23,993 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Lake Chetac in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Chetac | 2,400 | 26 | 2 | complex cool dark | |
| Knuteson Lake | 2 miles east | 64 | 17 | 1 | complex cool dark |
| Thomas Lake, Sawyer County | 2 miles southwest | 35 | 20 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Garbutt Lake | 2 miles southwest | 37 | 43 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Heron Lake | 2 miles north | 30 | 25 | 0 | complex warm dark |
| McDermott Lake, Sawyer County | 2 miles southwest | 27 | 45 | 0 | simple cool clear |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Lake Chetac
Wisconsin lakes around Lake Chetac
- Knuteson Lake2 miles east
- Thomas Lake, Sawyer County2 miles southwest
- Garbutt Lake2 miles southwest
- Heron Lake2 miles north
- McDermott Lake, Sawyer County2 miles southwest
Where anglers buy bait around Lake Chetac
- Long Lake Bait Tackle & C-STRbait and tackle shop, Sarona, 9 miles
- Stone Lake Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Stone Lake, 9 miles
- Timber Marine Servicesbait and tackle shop, Hayward, 15 miles
- K&t Archery And Sport Shopsporting goods store, Sarona, 19 miles
- Intruder Incbait and tackle shop, Rice Lake, 19 miles
- Farm & Fleet Of Rice Lakefarm and general store with fishing gear, Rice Lake, 20 miles
Home bases for a trip to Lake Chetac
- Birchwood4 miles
- Stone Lake9 miles
- Reserve10 miles
County guides for Lake Chetac
- Sawyer Countyseat: Hayward
Piscifun picks matched to Lake Chetac
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Species you may hook at Lake Chetac
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Questions anglers bring up about Lake Chetac
Which WDNR region covers Lake Chetac?
It sits in Sawyer County, WDNR Northern Region, about 4 miles from Birchwood.
How large and deep is Lake Chetac?
WDNR lists 2,400 acres and 26 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Lake Chetac?
The WDNR maps 2 mapped landings; start with Lake Chetac Access.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Lake Chetac?
Expect largemouth bass (abundant), northern pike (abundant), panfish (abundant), smallmouth bass (present) and walleye (present).
Does Lake Chetac have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Lake Chetac on a Wisconsin license?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
Is Lake Chetac a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 4.7 feet (2017). Bottom: 25% sand, 10% gravel, 15% rock, 50% muck. WDNR class: complex cool dark. Type: drainage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Lake Chetac?
Try Long Lake Bait Tackle & C-STR, around 9 miles off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Lake Chetac?
The 2024 record lists 23,993 walleye.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Lake Chetac
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.