Murphy Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be very active with peak fishing times around 2-4 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Murphy Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Murphy Lake, MN
- How big is Murphy Lake?
- How deep is Murphy Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Murphy Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Murphy Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Murphy Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Murphy Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Murphy Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Murphy Lake?
How big is Murphy Lake?
How deep is Murphy Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Murphy Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Golden Shiner, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Spottail Shiner and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Murphy Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Murphy Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Murphy Lake?
History & Status of the Fishery
Murphy is a 354 acre lake with 261 (74%) acres of littoral area and maximum depth of 24 feet. Murphy Lake is located just west of Central Lakes, MN off U.S. Highway #53 and has a state-administered, concrete, back-in public access. Murphy was last assessed in 2009. Murphy was surveyed during the summer of 2019 to update information about fish populations. Walleye and Largemouth Bass are the primary species of management for Murphy Lake.
Walleye fingerlings have been stocked into Murphy during odd numbered years since 1993. Walleye abundance of 4.2 per gillnet lift was up significantly from 2009 (0.9) and was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Historically, the Walleye gillnet catch for 2019 was the highest on record for Murphy Lake dating back to 1950. Walleye average length was large at 17.6 inches with some fish captured exceeding 25 inches. All Walleye aged corresponded to stocked year-classes, suggesting natural reproduction of Walleye is limiting in Murphy Lake. Anglers should expect quality opportunities for Walleye angling in Murphy Lake in 2020 and beyond.
A total of 34 Largemouth Bass were sampled with electrofishing equipment. The catch rate of Largemouth Bass was 31.0 fish per hour of electrofishing on-time. Largemouth Bass average length was 14.3 inches with some quality sized fish sampled up to about 18 inches.
Northern Pike abundance of 4.1 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Northern pike average length was 23.9 inches and 16% of the gillnet captured fish were greater than 28 inches in length. One large specimen captured measured 35 inches in length.
Black Crappie abundance of 5.8 per trapnet lift was average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black Crappie average length was 7.4 inches. Bluegill abundance of 8.7 per trapnet lift was average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length of sampled Bluegill was 5.0 inches.
What is the average air temp for Murphy Lake?
Are there any state parks near Murphy Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Murphy Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Murphy Lake | 0.2 mi | 354 | 24 ft |
| Murphy Lake (Horseshoe) | 0.2 mi | 354 | 24 ft |
| Crystal Lake | 0.7 mi | 37 | 54 ft |
| Heikkila Lake | 0.7 mi | 69 | 18 ft |
| Central Lake | 1.3 mi | 73 | 19 ft |
| Anchor Lake | 1.5 mi | 166 | |
| Fig Lake | 1.8 mi | 88 | 34 ft |
| Elliot Lake | 2.6 mi | 373 | 13 ft |
| Round Lake | 2.6 mi | 52 | |
| Stone Lake | 2.8 mi | 143 | 12 ft |
