Mirror Lake in Saint Louis County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Mirror Lake belongs to Saint Louis County. The water sits 1,365 feet up. At roughly 19 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Most waters listed here for Saint Louis County are larger. Arnold is the closest town at 7.1 miles. The big place round here is Saint Paul, 147 miles distant. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Mirror Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Saint Louis County include yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker, rainbow trout and walleye. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Mirror Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 66°F and January reads 7°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Mirror Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Deepwater Lake is 1.2 miles off. Confirm before you fish Mirror Lake.