Fishing Lake Velence

Velencei-tó (Lake Velence) is the kind of water you can pop down to after work: it is close to Budapest and Székesfehérvár, much of the shore is easy to reach, and the reedy bays give it a real fishing atmosphere. At the same time it is one of Hungary's most sensitive large lakes, where water level and weather create a different situation every year. If you understand that, you can catch plenty of good fish here.

What kind of water is Lake Velence?

Lake Velence covers roughly 26 square kilometres, and even at normal water levels its average depth is only around one and a half metres. About a third of its area is covered by reeds, which give fish shelter and spawning grounds and give anglers a varied margin to fish.

Because the water is so shallow, the lake reacts quickly to everything:

• It heats up fast in summer, so fish are more active at dawn and in the evening.
• A strong cold front or a spell of dead calm can change oxygen conditions.
• The water level fluctuates strongly. In drought years it can fall to record lows, and then some stretches of shore and boat routes become practically unusable.

So before you set off, always check the latest water level and the current notices from the fishery manager.

What can you catch?

The fish stock is mixed; the most popular targets are:

• Carp: the lake's most common target, both in reedy bays and in more open, silty areas.
• Pike: the classic predator of reed margins and bays, most active in autumn and early spring.
• Zander: over harder bottoms, around rock revetments and piers.
• Wels catfish: a fan of warm water, caught more and more often in summer.
• Tench: a fish of calm, weedy areas, best targeted with fine tackle.
• Bream and crucian-type carp: often give generous catches, ideal for beginners and kids.

The invasive Prussian carp lives here in large numbers too. It made up the bulk of recent spring and summer fish kills, and under the rules it must not be returned to the water.

Where to fish

There are many villages and towns around the lake, from Velence through Gárdony and Agárd to Pákozd and Sukoró. A few general tips for choosing a spot:

• Built jetties and piers: comfortable, and often give you access to deeper water.
• Reed margins: the best ground for carp, tench and pike, especially in spring and autumn.
• Channels and passages through the reeds: fish travel through them between the bays and the open water.
• Open water from a boat: if the water level allows, you can cover a lot of ground, but always stick to the designated routes.

The western part of the lake holds an extensive bird reserve where fishing and entering by boat are both prohibited. The map search shows clearly where the fishable stretches and other nearby waters are.

Tackle and baits

Lake Velence doesn't call for extreme gear. Thanks to the shallow, calm water, finer rigs often work better than heavy long-casting setups. For carp, the method feeder and a classic ledger rig have both proven themselves, with sweetcorn, pellets, smaller boilies or maggots as bait. For tench and bream, float fishing a few metres out from the reeds is the most enjoyable approach. For pike in shallow water, lures running close to the surface, spoons and smaller soft baits are the winners. In snaggy, reedy swims use a stronger line so a hooked fish isn't left trailing your rig.

Seasons and methods

Spring

The shallow water warms quickly and the fish switch on early. Carp and bream can be caught well in sunny bays. During spawning several species are protected, so pay particular attention.

Summer

Dawn and evening are best. During the day swimmers and warm water make fishing quieter. The risk of fish kills is higher in summer too, so avoid stressing fish unnecessarily, and if you see dead fish, report it to the fishery warden.

Autumn

Pike and zander become active, and carp put on weight one last time before winter. Calm autumn days are often the best of the year.

Winter

The lake often freezes in winter. Whether ice fishing is allowed is always decided by the local rules and the authorities; never step onto thin ice.

Rules and responsible fishing

The fishery on Lake Velence is managed by the Hungarian National Angling Association (MOHOSZ), and the local rules are published by its lake office. You need a Hungarian state fishing licence and a valid area ticket. Size limits, bag limits and closed seasons can change, so check the current rules every year.

A few principles that matter especially on Lake Velence:

1. Feed in moderation. In shallow, warm water excess groundbait damages water quality.
2. Handle fish gently on a wet surface and release them quickly.
3. Don't cut reeds and don't disturb nesting birds.
4. Take your rubbish home; don't leave it on the jetty.

Summary

Lake Velence is close, varied and produces good fish, but it is a sensitive water that asks for extra attention from anglers. Follow the water level and the fishery manager's notices, stick to the rules and treat the fish gently. If low water makes fishing difficult at the moment, the map search quickly turns up other lakes in the area.