Lac Virelles Fishing in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec

• Overview

  Lac Virelles sits within Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec. The water sits 334 metres up. Small at around 2 hectares: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Abitibi-Témiscamingue standards. For a base, Val-d'Or sits 70 km out. Malartic is 84 km and Senneterre 102 km. Neighbouring water: Lac Cygne within 0.3 km, Lac Muizen lies 1.1 km on, Lac Polken within 1.9 km, Lac de la Bauge lies 2 km on and Lac Viernay within 2.5 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lac Virelles

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. 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. Public occurrence data for Abitibi-Témiscamingue names northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Treat Lac Virelles as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 17°C for July and -15°C for January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Lac Virelles more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lac Cygne, 0.3 km away. Confirm before you fish Lac Virelles.