Lac Vares Fishing in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  You will find Lac Vares in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec. It lies 367 metres above sea level. About 8 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Deep River at 111 km is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Val-d'Or (116 km) and Chalk River (120 km). Also within reach: Lac Jaconas some 1 km off, Lac Hamars just 2 km, Lac Merl some 2 km off, Lac Breteuil just 2.4 km and Lac Narcose some 2.5 km off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lac Vares

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Abitibi-Témiscamingue records list northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Lac Vares a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 17°C and January reads -16°C. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Lac Vares follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lac Jaconas sits 1 km off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Lac Vares as something to verify.