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LAKE MURPHYSBORO


Lake Information

County: Jackson

Acreage: 145

Average Depth: 13.71 feet

Shoreline Length: 7.5 miles

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? 10 hp

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? No

Skiing? No

Swimming? No

Picnicking? Yes

Camping? Yes


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Maps are not intended for navigation.


There are no zebra mussels in this lake.


Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2021

Channel Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

1450

2021

Channel Catfish

Non-vulnerable 8 - 10"

3600

2022

Channel Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

2900


Additional information for stocking on Murphysboro, Lake


Fishing Outlook  ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Average

The bluegill population structure can only be described as average. During the 2022 fall electrofishing survey only a few bluegill over 7 inches were collected. No bluegill over 8 inches were collected.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Excellent

IDNR stocks 8-10” channel catfish into Lake Murphysboro every year. These annual stockings have produced excellent angling opportunities for 2-5 pound channel catfish. Fourteen channel catfish (12-22 inches) were collected in the 2022 survey. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit.

CRAPPIE

Good

Lake Murphysboro has a good crappie population consisting of both black and white crappie. Of the crappie collected in the 2022 fall electrofishing survey, 33% were over nine-inches in length and 5% were over 10 inches in length.

FLATHEAD CATFISH

Poor

Flathead catfish are present in Lake Murphysboro and have been collected in the last 5 surveys. Two flathead catfish (30-36 inches) were collected in the 2022 survey. The largest weighed 23 pounds.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Excellent

The opportunity to catch bass over 15 inches and weighing 2–3 pounds is excellent in this lake. During the 2022 fall survey, 39% of the bass measured 15 inches or better. Eleven percent of the bass collected were over 18 inches. This lake receives more fishing pressure for panfish than largemouth bass. The 2021 and 2022 bass surveys were two of the best surveys on record for this lake. Thirteen bass over 4 pounds were collected with the largest weighing just shy of 7 pounds. This lake has a tremendous bass population. Site Regulation: 3 daily limit.

REDEAR SUNFISH

Good

The redear population shows more promise than the bluegill population. While not numerous, redear sunfish over 8 inches are present. A few redear sunfish over 9 inches were also collected.

Location: This lake is located within Lake Murphysboro State Park just west of Murphysboro in Jackson County.

Description: Built in 1950, this 145-acre lake has a shoreline length of 7.5 miles and a maximum depth of 36 feet. All boat motors over 10 HP must operate at no-wake speed. There are three campgrounds within Lake Murphysboro State Park.

Additional Lake Information: No swimming allowed. There are two boat ramps available for use. There are no concessions at Lake Murphysboro State Park. 2 pole and line fishing only.

FISHING TOURNAMENTS: Tournaments are limited to a maximum of 8 boats.

FISH ATTRACTORS – A map of the Lake Murphysboro fish attractor locations can be obtained via email by sending a request to Shawn.Hirst@Illinois.gov


Site Regulations:
Largemouth Bass: 3 fish daily limit
Channel Catfish: 6 fish daily limit

Contact Information:
Lake Murphysboro State Park
618-684-2867
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Shawn Hirst
618-559-5009

There were 8 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2022.

Species Total Fish Caught
Largemouth Bass 218

Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:

1     11.65 lbs
2     7.06 lbs
3     5.74 lbs
4     5.48 lbs
5     5.22 lbs

Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:

1 87.45 lbs
2 82.50 lbs
3 69.38 lbs
4 61.32 lbs
5 46.96 lbs