Fishing Lac des Aralies in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Out in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, sits Lac des Aralies. It sits in pine and birch country. Surface area runs to about 4 hectares — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Val-d'Or at 102 km is the nearest place to stop. After that come Malartic at 112 km and Notre-Dame-du-Lac at 120 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lac des Aralies

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Abitibi-Témiscamingue include northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Lac des Aralies for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -15°C in January up to 17°C in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Lac des Aralies.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Lac Rouget at 0.7 km is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Lac des Aralies locally before you travel.