Fishing Mirror Lake in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska

• Overview

  Mirror Lake lies within the bounds of Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska. The shore lies 5.5 miles out. Roughly 1,270 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The perimeter runs near 11 miles, so plan the walk before you start. It is among the larger waters listed here for Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Head to Ketchikan, 23 miles away, for anything you forgot. Then Metlakatla, 32 miles, and Craig, 78 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Mirror Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Ketchikan Gateway Borough include pink salmon, Chum salmon, Chinook salmon and Coho salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Mirror Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 55°F and January near 28°F on the long-run figures. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Mirror Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Loon Lake is 1.4 miles off. The position on Mirror Lake is worth confirming on the day.