Murphy Lake near 47.2972, -92.4989 is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Murphy Lake covers about 354 acres, reaches a recorded 21 feet and holds about 3,990 acre-feet.
How the Size and Shape of Murphy Lake Affect Fishing
Murphy Lake is small enough to check weeds, wood, rock and the first deep drop without spending the whole day moving around.
Fish and Baits at Murphy Lake
Fish reported from Murphy Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, golden shiner, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, spottail shiner, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.
Bass
For bass at Murphy Lake, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.
Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish
For panfish at Murphy Lake, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill and pumpkinseed, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.
Walleye
For roaming fish at Murphy Lake, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.
Northern Pike
For large predators at Murphy Lake, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.
Bullheads
For bottom fishing at Murphy Lake, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.
How the Seasons Change Murphy Lake
Spring at Murphy Lake is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall at Murphy Lake can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.
A Simple Plan for Fishing Murphy Lake
On a first trip to Murphy Lake, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.
Useful Tackle for Murphy Lake
A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Murphy Lake, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.
Murphy Lake FAQs
Where should an angler start on the 354-acre Murphy Lake?
At Murphy Lake, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.
Should anglers fish the 21-foot deep end of Murphy Lake?
Not every trip. A better place at Murphy Lake is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.
What does the 3,990 acre-foot storage figure mean at Murphy Lake?
At Murphy Lake, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.
Nearby fishing waters
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.