Lake Varlaam

Lake Varlaam is located 25 km south of Bucharest in Romania. A beautiful location for both carp fishing and feeder fishing. It is approximately one kilometer from the village of Varlaam, close to the main road DN5A and is easy to find.
Lake Varlaam is easily accessible regardless of weather and all swims are accessible by car, so you can unload your gear. Lake Varlaam is a private area where no one is allowed to enter and has a lockable entrance, making fishing very safe. After this, cars are parked in the parking area at the entrance. The parking area is close to most fishing swims.
For customers traveling to Romania by plane, we can arrange pickup and transport from Bucharest International Airport. Transport costs may apply. For more information, please contact us.
For safety reasons, please note that arrival and departure are only possible during daylight hours.

Arrival and departure times
Arrival after 07:00
Departure 12:00
If you arrive later than 18:00, you can call us or the managers for advice.
It is not permitted to leave the premises at night without permission.

The fish stock
In Sector A (the small lake) there are approximately 200-250 common and mirror carp, with the largest being a common carp of approximately 33.6 kg. Many carp weigh over 20 kg and most weigh over 15 kg. Several other large carp are approaching 30 kg.
The much larger Sector B (the big lake) has approximately 700-750 common and mirror carp, with about 50 carp around 20 kg, some of which weigh over 25 kg. The record at Varlaam sector B is 30 kg. Last year there were as many as 355 carp caught over 20 kg! It is an open body of water with virtually no obstacles and many attractive features, including two large islands and variable depths. In both lakes, the carp are mainly high-shouldered carp with large mouths and large fins. There are also several mirrors with a similar shape. The lakes have no crayfish or Poisson-chat.

The swims
All anglers receive as much help and information as possible to catch fish. The managers are available at all times and will go out regardless of the time, day and night, to photograph all fish heavier than 20 kg. Boats and bait boats are allowed at no extra cost. All swims are graveled and remain perfectly clean on rainy days. The use of a large unhooking mat or a large inflatable mat is essential and great care must be taken when handling the fish. No specialized equipment is required; standard fishing equipment will suffice. A rod pod might be easier to set up on the hard gravel, but regular bank sticks are also suitable.

Lake Varlaam Sector A
Has 11 large swims – 14 anglers – 7 hectares
The beautiful swims are spread across a picturesque peninsula with overhanging trees extending into the middle of the lake. See map in the photos. The swims are positioned so that everyone fishes from one bank towards the opposite side. There are no spots on the opposite side, everyone has enough space and can fish without being disturbed by neighbors.
Sector A has 11 swims, strategically placed along the edge of the lake, with a maximum of seven anglers, so each customer gets their share of the water. All swims offer anglers many possibilities on where and how to fish. There are many reed beds, overhanging trees, bays, slopes, gravel bars, deep holes, silt beds and even a sunken island. To prevent overcrowding, management allows a maximum of 7 (seven) swims to be fished simultaneously. All spots are surrounded by young poplars and willows, so you can enjoy lovely shade in summer. All swims are large enough for 2-person bivvies. There are swims created for carp fishing and there are swims created for feeder fishing.
Carp swims are A1, A2, A4, A6, A7, A8, A9
Feeder swims are A3, A5, A10, A11

Lake Varlaam Sector B
Has 16 swims – 30 anglers – 25 hectares
All swims in Sector B have electricity. Some swims in Sector B (B8, B9, B10, B11, B13, B14, B15) have comfortable wooden chalets that can be booked together with swims. Most swims are large enough for two anglers with a maximum of eight rods. The spots are very comfortable and many are lined with trees and can provide shade in summer. Each swim has access to a large water surface of at least 1 hectare, but often much more.

The facilities
Lake Varlaam is completely safe and maintained and offers excellent facilities, including charging points for mobile phones, bait boats and other electrical equipment, clean toilets and shower blocks, convenient parking and easy access.
The showers and toilets are located just 150 meters from Sector A and are also clean, well-equipped and spacious. There is electricity and water (from a spring) in Sector A. The managers can help you charge your batteries. All swims in Sector B also have electricity.

Tactics
Lake Varlaam is a fantastic place to fish. There are so many features in the design
of the lake that no two swims are the same and each time will test your knowledge. Due to the topography of the lake and the amount of underwater features, Varlaam can present various challenges, but skilled anglers will do well in all ways, as long as bait boats become an essential part of their fishing.Although the lake is not large, you need to know what you’re doing to locate the fish. Even if you have located the fish in a certain spot and you’re sure the carp are there, you might still not catch them.Lake Varlaam is not an easy water, as carp fishing should be. It’s also not that difficult and can often be quite generous with big carp and multiple catches in a short time.

All good quality bait will catch, although we can supply a range of very competitively priced Dynamite Baits boilies and pop-ups that can be purchased locally. Large quantities should be pre-ordered.Rigs don’t need to be complicated, but they must be safe. The managers routinely check rigs and advise what’s best to use.