Murphy Lakes Fishing Guide, Chelan County, Washington

• Overview

  Murphy Lakes belongs to Chelan County, Washington. It sits at 4,757 feet above sea level. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest place of any size is Leavenworth, 23 miles away. It is 50 miles to Bellevue, the nearest city. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Murphy Lakes

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Chelan County cover cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Murphy Lakes decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 57°F and December near 24°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. That is the shape of the year on Murphy Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Surprise Lake is 1.2 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Murphy Lakes for certain.