Fishing Murphy Lake in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Murphy Lake belongs to Schoolcraft County. It stands 679 feet above sea level. The water covers some 134 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Roughly 2.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It ranks high for size among our Schoolcraft County listings. 16 miles away sits Manistique, the nearest town. Green Bay is the closest city, 135 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Murphy Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Schoolcraft County records list rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Murphy Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 65°F; the cold one sits at 15°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Anyone fishing Murphy Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Doyle Lake, 0.2 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Murphy Lake for certain.