Waters · Hungary
Balaton fishing report
Updated Friday, 9 October 2026 · refreshed automatically through the day
Central Europe's "sea" is shallow, milky-green and windswept — the definitive fogas (zander) fishery, with huge carp and wels for those who fish the storms.
Species and season on Balaton
Balaton is Central Europe's great zander (fogas) water, with spring and autumn the best seasons around the protection period, and summer fishing often best at dusk and night. Big carp and wels catfish are taken on dedicated gear, and the lake's shallow, warm water makes it very sensitive to wind and algae blooms.
How to fish it
Because the lake is shallow and warm, wind decides the day: onshore winds stir up the shore and pull baitfish with them, while a calm, hot spell can push fish deep or into the evening. Zander respond to falling pressure and low light; fishing from a boat over the stone reefs and harbour edges outperforms shore fishing.
Access, licences and local rules
Hungary requires a state fishing licence plus a Balaton fishing permit; both are available online and at local offices. There is a spring protection period for zander, and size and bag limits apply — verify them with the licensing authority before you go. Night fishing and boat use have their own rules and some areas are restricted, so check locally.
Rules, seasons and permit systems change. Treat this as orientation and confirm with the licensing authority or fishery manager before you fish.
Today's report: excellent (93/100)
Zander is the most promising species on Balaton today. Water temperature is around 14°C and barometric pressure is stable.
Best time to fish today
- 18:00–20:00 local time — score 91/100
- 23:00–01:00 local time — score 92/100
- 06:00–08:00 local time — score 87/100
3-day outlook by species
| Species | Thursday 8 Oct | Friday 9 Oct | Saturday 10 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zander | 93 — excellent | 93 — excellent | 97 — excellent |
| Common Carp | 60 — good | 58 — fair | 61 — good |
| Wels Catfish | 64 — good | 61 — good | 64 — good |
Why this score
Cast & Scan uses a deterministic, published scoring model — no black box. The strongest influences on today's Balaton rating:
- water temperature: helping (+1)
- pressure trend: helping (+1)
- light: helping (+1)
- cloud cover: helping (+1)
- season: helping (+1)
- precipitation: helping (+0.9)
Forecast computed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:26:45 GMT · data: Open-Meteo · refreshed automatically through the day · see our published accuracy
Wondering how this stacks up against the apps you already know? Cast & Scan vs Fishbrain vs BassForecast — an honest comparison, including where they beat us.
Read before you go
More zander waters
- Śniardwy — Masuria, Poland
- Danube (Budapest) — Budapest, Hungary
- Amsterdam Canals — Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Curonian Lagoon — Klaipėda, Lithuania
- Ebro (Mequinenza) — Aragón, Spain
Nearby waters
- Danube (Budapest) — Budapest, Hungary (122 km away)
- Lake Bled — Upper Carniola, Slovenia (282 km away)
- Soča — Julian Alps, Slovenia (323 km away)
- Lipno — South Bohemia, Czechia (332 km away)
- Dunajec (Upper) — Podhale, Poland (335 km away)
- Chiemsee — Bavaria, Germany (413 km away)