Fishing at Mirror Lake, Clackamas County, Oregon

• Overview

  Mirror Lake sits in Clackamas County, out in Oregon. The surroundings are rolling hill. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. You are 10 miles from Mount Hood Village. Sandy is 24 miles away, with Odell at 26 miles. Other water within reach: Wind Lake about 0.9 miles, Veda Lake sits 2.9 miles out, Trillium Lake about 3.2 miles, Devils Lake sits 3.4 miles out and Burnt Lake about 3.7 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mirror Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Clackamas County: Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Work Mirror Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 31°F and August at about 58°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mirror Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Wind Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Mirror Lake are worth checking on the day.