Murphy Lake Fishing in Dakota County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Dakota County in Minnesota is where Murphy Lake sits. The surface lies 919 feet up. Roughly 59 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The whole outline is near 1.7 miles, and most of it is walkable. It is low-lying compared with other Minnesota water we list. Prior Lake is the closest place, 4 miles off. Savage follows at 4.8 miles, then Burnsville at 5.1 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Murphy Lake

  Depth records show about 24 feet at the bottom of the basin. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Dakota County include bluegill, common carp and green sunfish. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Murphy Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 72°F in July and bottom out at 12°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about early December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Murphy Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Krenz Lake, 1.1 miles out. The position on Murphy Lake is worth confirming on the day.