Fishing at Mirror Lake, Washington County, Vermont

• Overview

  Mirror Lake belongs to Washington County, Vermont. The bank is 1,060 feet above sea level. It measures about 83 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 1.4 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Hardwick is the closest place, 8.4 miles off. The big place round here is Sherbrooke, 75 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Mirror Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Species logged across Washington County include brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and brown trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Mirror Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 66°F and January near 15°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Mirror Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. Parking is at Mirror Lake, some half a mile off. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Forest Lake is 0.8 miles distant. Signs at Mirror Lake carry more weight than any list.