Murray Lake in Livingston County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Murray Lake in Livingston County, Michigan. This is mixed forest country. At about 25 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The nearest town is Brighton, 2.5 miles away. Ann Arbor is the closest city, 17 miles away. Water in the same corner: Reed Lake 0.5 miles off, Cunningham Lake 0.6 miles away, Appleton Lake 0.6 miles off, Little Appleton Lake 0.9 miles away and Brighton Lake 1.4 miles off. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Murray Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pink salmon. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Treat Murray Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 22°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near late March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Murray Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Boating Access is the mapped launch, some half a mile from here. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Reed Lake, 0.5 miles away. Signs at Murray Lake carry more weight than any list.