Fishing Murphy Lake

Murphy Lake offers excellent largemouth bass fishing with well above average growth rates (+1.4 inches) and multiple year classes up to 13 years old - 17% of bass exceed 16 inches for trophy opportunities. The bluegill population has dramatically improved since the 1987 reclamation, now ranking as 'good' on the Schneider Index with above average growth (+0.7) and 39% reaching harvestable size of 6+ inches. Black crappie provide consistent action averaging 7.1 inches with 43% meeting the 7-inch harvest size, though growth runs below state average. Northern pike show well above average growth (+4.7) and improved size structure, averaging nearly 27 inches with 80% legal size. Walleye benefit from regular stocking and grow above average (+0.8), with 63% reaching the 15-inch minimum. The lake stratifies in summer with oxygen dropping below 3 ppm at depths greater than 18 feet, concentrating fish in the upper water column. Best fishing occurs in the irregular main basin with sand substrate, while the shallow southern basin near Goodings Creek inlet holds spawning esocids in spring. The lake's 209 acres include four deep basins reaching 41 feet maximum depth, with 62% of the water 10 feet or less providing extensive shallow habitat. Aquatic vegetation including Eurasian milfoil and pondweeds provides excellent fish cover, though chemical treatments occur semi-annually since 1997. Access is limited to rough gravel launches within the state game area, restricting boats to 16 feet or smaller due to the road culvert connection to the main basin.