Murphy

Lake County

Near Silver Bay

DOW: 38075400

PumpkinseedExcellent · 77Northern PikeExcellent · 75Rock BassGood · 72

A 113-acre lake near Silver Bay in Lake County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1964.

Fish Species (8)

Pumpkinseed

Excellent · 77

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.24 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per trap net · typical 0.4–2.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	1.25	-	1.24 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Excellent · 75

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

3.16 lbs

Catch rate: 3.5 per gill net · typical 2–6.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	3.50	-	3.16 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 15, 1964	4.50	-	1.65 lbs	Standard trap nets

Rock Bass

Good · 72

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.47 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	0.75	-	0.47 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 67

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.58 lbs

Catch rate: 3.5 per trap net · typical 1–7.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	1.00	-	0.60 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 15, 1964	3.50	-	0.58 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Good · 59

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.25 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 0.3–6.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	2.00	-	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 55

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 8.0 per gill net · typical 2.2–14.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	6.00	-	0.26 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 15, 1964	8.00	-	0.14 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (2)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Good · 63

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.08 lbs

Catch rate: 10.5 per gill net · typical 3.6–14.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	10.50	-	2.08 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 15, 1964	4.75	-	2.16 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Bullhead

Good · 50

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1964

Last surveyed 1964 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.16 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per trap net · typical 0.3–13 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1964	1.25	-	0.16 lbs	Standard trap nets

Biologist Notes

July 15, 1964Murphy Lake is a 100 acre soft-water lake in the upper Cloquet River watershed. There is no public access to the lake until such time as a partially c…

Murphy Lake is a 100 acre soft-water lake in the upper Cloquet River watershed. There is no public access to the lake until such time as a partially completed U.S. Forest Service road is opened for public use. The maximum depth of the lake is 12 feet. There is one inlet and one outlet. The lake is surrounded by forested land with some marsh area at the inlet and along the southwest side. Shoal soils are variable with sand, gravel, muck, and rocky areas. Lake levels are held up by an old log and rock dam, formerly used for logging purposes. Vegetation is scattered along the shoreline with a floating mat in the inlet area. Ten species of fish were found with Northern Pike and Black Crappie being the only abundant angling species. Two Largemouth Bass fingerlings were taken during shoreline seining operations along with Black Bullheads, Pumpkinseed sunfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch. Seven of the 25 Northern Pike taken were four pounds or larger. Black Crappies were as large as 1.5 pounds but not very numerous. Spawning facilities are "good" for Northern Pike and appear "fair" for Black Crappie. Fishing pressure at the present time is light due to the lack of a public access. Snapping turtles are abundant in this area. Six were taken in one trapnet set overnight near the inlet. The outlet dam should be rebuilt in the future to maintain the lake level. The present dam is in poor condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Murphy?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Pumpkinseed, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Bluegill in Murphy. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Murphy?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Murphy. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Murphy?

Murphy has a maximum depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Murphy last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Murphy is from 1964. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.