BFF Mirror Lake Sept. 19. 2026 Trip Report

Eleven BFF members and guests gathered at Mirror Lake at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. The change of seasons was evident by the 37 degree temperature at starting time. We enjoyed clear weather and warming temperatures until about noon. Some of our group fished from watercraft while at least four anglers fished from shore. I can’t confirm that everyone caught fish, but lots of fish were caught (Fred Jepsen netted 47, about as many as the rest of the group combined). After noon successive bands of rain, pellet snow and hail added drama to the fishing. Watching snow pellets slowly melt in the lake water and seeing the thousands of water eruptions as pea-sized hail splashed into the water while kicking about in a float tube added an element of uniqueness to the trip. The weather didn’t bother the fish, however, as they continued to hit a variety of flies, including wooly buggers (Captain America or Midnight Fire dubbing, with a pink, red or orange bead), microleeches, hippie stompers and renegades. Mirror Lake is a popular lake, but the adverse weather conditions dissuaded all but the most hardcore anglers, reducing the fishing pressure. 

It is worth remembering that Mirror Lake and all of the other lakes in the Mirror Lake Highway area see somewhat less pressure after Labor Day, making September a great time of year to enjoy this convenient fishery, especially if you have to limit your fishing to weekends. 

Report by Ron Barnett