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Murphy Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Arkansas, United States

4.0·288 catches

Top fish species at Murphy Lake

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Check which species have trophy potential in Murphy Lake

Murphy Lake fishing reports

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Channel catfish

12 in · 1 lb

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length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Channel catfish

length · weight

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Spotted bass

18 in · 3 lb

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General info

Murphy Lake is a lake located in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. It is most popular for fishing Rainbow trout, Channel catfish, and Largemouth bass.

Location

36°10′51″N 94°08′27.7″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Murphy Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Murphy Lake. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Murphy Lake, AR

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Arkansas can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout

Regulation boundaryArkansas State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Required licenses
A trout permit is required to fish for trout in certain waters (tailwaters below Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Greeson or east of Highway 59 on Spavinaw Creek) or to keep trout from any Arkansas waters.
Additional information
As of October 16: The proclamation calls for catch-and-release of all trout in the 45 miles of tailwater below Bull Shoals Dam to the White River's confluence with the North Fork River (specifically to the boat ramp at Norfork Access), as well as catch-and-release only on the entirety of the Norfork Dam tailwater. The trout waters below the White River-North Fork River confluence, from the Norfork Access boat ramp to the Highway 58 bridge at Guion, will have a two-trout-only limit with normal length and daily limits (only one trout over 14 inches). Tackle restrictions for the regular Bull Shoals and Rim Shoals catch-and-release areas on the White and the usual Norfork catch-and-release area still apply (artificial tackle only, and barbless hooks). Under the order, anglers in those two tailwaters may keep two trout up to 14 inches in length and must release all other caught trout. More updates on this, please see here. For area-specific regulations, see Arkansas special area-specific regulations.
Edibility
Excellent
Synonyms
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Location specific information
Murphy LakeLargemouth bass must be released immediately. Catfish daily limit is 3.Bream daily limit is 25. Trout daily limit is 5. A trout permit is required to keep trout. Open to fishing with rod or pole only. Waters open to electric trolling motors only.
Season open: year-round
Channel catfish

Channel catfish

Regulation boundaryAR Murphy Lake
Bag limit3

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit3

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Additional information
No size limit. No closed season.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Ictalurus punctatus
Location regulation notes
Murphy LakeLargemouth bass must be released immediately. Catfish daily limit is 3.Bream daily limit is 25. Trout daily limit is 5. A trout permit is required to keep trout. Open to fishing with rod or pole only. Waters open to electric trolling motors only.
Location specific information
Murphy LakeLargemouth bass must be released immediately. Catfish daily limit is 3.Bream daily limit is 25. Trout daily limit is 5. A trout permit is required to keep trout. Open to fishing with rod or pole only. Waters open to electric trolling motors only.
Season open: year-round
Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass

Regulation boundaryAR Murphy Lake
Bag limit0

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Restrictions & requirements

Catch and Release Only

Daily Creel Limit = 0 (Catch and Release Fishing Only)

Additional information
Largemouth bass must be released immediately.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Micropterus nigricans
Location regulation notes
Murphy LakeLargemouth bass must be released immediately. Catfish daily limit is 3.Bream daily limit is 25. Trout daily limit is 5. A trout permit is required to keep trout. Open to fishing with rod or pole only. Waters open to electric trolling motors only.
Location specific information
Murphy LakeLargemouth bass must be released immediately. Catfish daily limit is 3.Bream daily limit is 25. Trout daily limit is 5. A trout permit is required to keep trout. Open to fishing with rod or pole only. Waters open to electric trolling motors only.
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Local laws and licenses

Arkansas fishing license

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Reviews of Murphy Lake

4.0
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15 ratings

5
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1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Springdale

1.1 miles away

Fayetteville

7.7 miles away

Goshen

9.3 miles away

Rogers

9.4 miles away

Bentonville

13.0 miles away

Centerton

14.9 miles away

Avoca

15.5 miles away

Hindsville

15.7 miles away

Prairie Grove

16.3 miles away

Wesley

16.3 miles away

Springtown

16.7 miles away

West Fork

17.1 miles away

Pea Ridge

18.6 miles away

Decatur

20.8 miles away

Bella Vista

21.0 miles away

Garfield

21.1 miles away

Siloam Springs

21.8 miles away

Cincinnati

23.2 miles away

Huntsville

23.3 miles away

Canehill

23.3 miles away

Summers

23.6 miles away

Gateway

23.9 miles away

Watts

24.6 miles away

Cherokee City

25.5 miles away

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FAQ about Murphy Lake fishing

📍 Where is Murphy Lake located?
Murphy Lake is a lake located in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. Its coordinates are:
36°10′51″N 94°08′27.7″W
.
🎣 Where on Murphy Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Murphy Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Murphy Lake?
The most common species in Murphy Lake are:
📢 What are the latest Murphy Lake fishing reports?
The latest Murphy Lake fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Murphy Lake?

Fishing in Arkansas requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident, non-resident, short-term, and combination options, available online and at authorized vendors.

In Arkansas, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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