Fishing Murphy Lake in Tuscola County, Michigan

• Overview

  Murphy Lake lies in Tuscola County, in Michigan. This is pine and birch country. The water covers some 185 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 4.5 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. By surface area it heads our Tuscola County listings. For supplies, Millington is 3.6 miles out. Vassar lies 7.8 miles off, Barnes Lake-Millers Lake another 11 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Murphy Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Tuscola County cover bluegill, largemouth bass and common carp. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Murphy Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 21°F in January to roughly 70°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Murphy Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Cedar Lake is 3.4 miles off. What applies at Murphy Lake may have changed since it was mapped.