Murphy Lake, Tuscola County, MI: Depth Map, Fishing & Water Quality

Where it is

4 miles northeast of Millington

Tuscola County, Michigan · 43.2993° N, 83.4623° W

The Michigan DNR lists no public access site on Murphy Lake; much of the shore may be private.

Today on the lake

Updated 14 Oct 2026, 6:12 pm EDT. Get alerts for Murphy Lake

WEATHERTonight: mostly cloudy, 43°F, wind NNE 3 to 7 mph. Thursday: mostly cloudy then chance light rain, 61°F, wind E 3 to 8 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAEToo small for satellite monitoring (under 1 km²). No bloom reports on record with Michigan DHHS.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

6 contours, 5 to 40 ft

051015203040feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

183 acres · deepest 40 ft (measured) · shoreline about 5.5 mi · clarity about 9 ft

Murphy Lake is the largest of the 13 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Tuscola County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 2nd deepest of the 3 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 8 of the other 11 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 5.5 miles along the state outline. About 19% of its area is deeper than 15 ft.

Ranks against Tuscola County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Murphy Lake 40 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 24,645 walleye on 18 June 2025. Species stocked: channel catfish, fathead minnow, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, tiger muskellunge, walleye.

40 stockings, 1979 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 18 Jun 2025: 24,645 walleye.

18 Jun 2025STOCKED24,645 walleye

27 Jun 2024STOCKED11,920 walleye

10 Jul 2021STOCKED8,508 walleye

25 Jun 2019STOCKED47,293 walleye

7 Jun 2017STOCKED20,000 walleye

10 Jun 2015STOCKED12,720 walleye

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 9 ft (Secchi depth 2.8 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 9.0 ft of 40 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

The area around Murphy Lake

7 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 6 miles of Murphy Lake. Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

no name22 ft deep · 3.7 mi · Tuscola County

no name14 ft deep · 3.9 mi · Tuscola County

no name18 ft deep · 3.9 mi · Tuscola County

North Lake46 ft deep · 4.8 mi · County

Mud Lake51 ft deep · 5.2 mi · Lapeer County

Otter Lake117 ft deep · 5.7 mi · County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Murphy Lake?

Murphy Lake is 40 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 183 acres.

Is Murphy Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 40 times since 1979, most recently 24,645 walleye on 18 June 2025.

How much of Murphy Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 24% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.