Trout Area weekend ended with amazing catches
The Trout Area National Ranking Points Competition 2025/2026. Rounds V and VI, as well as Rounds III and IV of 2026, brought a memorable weekend on the competition course established next to the Alpesi Fogadó and Fishing Tourism Center in Vaskeresztes. The two-day competition tested not only the preparation and endurance of the competitors, but also the suitability of the course, which, based on the feedback, proved to be excellent on this weekend of national importance. Nearly 1,000 trout were hooked during the two-day competition weekend.
The rounds began at 6:30 a.m. on both days with a technical meeting and opening ceremony. The technical meeting was held by Zoltán Kass, the national captain of the sport , while Norbert Puskás, the executive president, welcomed the participants and presented the most important information on behalf of the hosts. Our association awaited the competitors with a small fishing breakfast in the center's event room, where they also had the opportunity to warm up, have a hot drink, and briefly cool off during the day at halftime. This was necessary, as the weekend's weather really tested the field: the competition started in a 2–3 degree morning cold on both days, and then took place in hurricane-force winds for almost the entire weekend.
The second round of the competition started at 8:15 on Sunday, and fish were hooked within the first minute. The competitors were constantly adapting to the conditions, trying different baits, colors and methods of fishing, and the key to success this weekend was also in quick adaptation, concentration and perseverance. Despite the harsh weather, the fish remained active throughout, so the field was constantly given the chance to achieve a good result.
However, the difficult conditions did not break the momentum of the competitors for a moment. Bites began to arrive in the first minutes of the competition, and this rhythm lasted until the end of the day. The anglers were constantly looking for solutions that worked: they alternated between different baits, sizes and colors, and it was not uncommon for the most successful competitors to net 3-4 trout during a 20-minute stage.
The numbers speak for themselves. In the first round, 31 competitors caught a total of 468 fish, while in the second round, 26 competitors caught 528 fish. In other words, the smaller second-day field significantly surpassed even the first-day catch.
This performance is particularly remarkable in light of the harsh weather conditions on Sunday. On the first day, 26 fish were enough to win, while on the second day 35 were needed to win. The two days ended with a total of 996 fish caught, which is a remarkable result on a national level, and according to the competitors, many courses cannot achieve this even under ideal conditions.
The fish supply also contributed greatly to the excellent catch results. Thanks to the cooperation of Csaba Kállai , the manager of the Vaskerestes trout farm, we managed to provide trout weighing an average of 20 dkg, which met the needs of the competitors. For the weekend – with official permission – a total of 220 kg of rainbow trout were stocked: 120 kg on Friday, and then another 100 kg after the first round. This not only raised the standard of the competition, but also showed that the lake offers an excellent opportunity to popularize and develop the method and the discipline in Hungary.
While the serious competition was taking place on the course, the organizers were also working continuously in the background. Our association's employees, József Mesterházy and Tamás Karácsonyi, ensured that a hot meal awaited the field returning for the results announcement. On the first day, hot goulash was served, while on the second day stew was served, which was especially good for the participants in the cold, windy weather. At the end of the day, good-natured conversations, positive feedback and words of appreciation confirmed what the numbers and atmosphere of the weekend clearly showed: Vaskeresztes presented itself as a new, serious competition course in the trout area discipline.
After today's competition, it can be stated with a calm heart that the Alpesi-tó in Vaskerestes has become a multifunctional fishing water thanks to the winter trout stocking in recent years. In summer, it is a favorite water for anglers with fine gear, primarily young people and children's anglers, and in winter, it provides lake trout fishing. The sportiness, dynamism and immediate spinning experience of the trout area sector attract more and more anglers, and it is gratifying that more and more people in Vas County are opening up to light spinning and targeted trout fishing. What is particularly important to us is that on the lake located in front of the federation center, any angler with a valid federation area ticket (daily, weekly, annual) can try spinning for trout, without keeping fish, and in compliance with local rules, and can also test their spinning or even fly fishing skills.
It is a special pleasure that not only the competition organization, the fishing experiences and the provided conditions were praised by the participants, but also those guests who stayed at the Alpesi Fogadó , which is operated by Vasi Vizeken Kft., also established by our Association, left satisfied. Several have already indicated that they would be happy to return, as a nationally significant competition will take place again in Vaskeresztes on April 18–19, when the Hungarian National Fishing Association will organize championship rounds at the venue.
The success of the weekend required the work of many. Thanks to Zoltán Kass, who was open to trying out the new course and organizing the competition. Thanks to the Vas county athletes, especially Gellért Pankotay and Anikó Pankotayné Kálmán , who were continuous initiators and supporters of this discipline being given a place in Vas county, first as a national scoring competition and then in the form of championship rounds. We also thank Csaba Kállai for his work and cooperation in ensuring the appropriate fish stock, and to all our colleagues and helpers for the dedicated work with which they contributed to Vaskeresztes being placed on the national competition map of the trout area discipline.
We are not stopping: further trout stocking is expected for the next competitions, so that championship participants, national team athletes and fans of the sport can continue to prepare for domestic and even future international competitions in excellent conditions.
We congratulate all the winners and participants for their persistent, sportsmanlike competition, and we thank the organizers, helpers, supporters and colleagues for their trust and the work they did, with whom we were able to create a memorable trout area weekend in Vaskeresztes.
Trout Area National Ranking Competition
2026.03.28. – Iron Cross
Detailed results here.
2026.03.29. – Iron Cross
Detailed results here.
More pictures are available here.
Final result
- Saturday round:
[🥇] Zoltán Plank – 27 points, 8 wins, 26 fish caught
[🥈] László Takács – 27 points, 6 wins, 24 fish caught
[🥉] Péter Oláh – 26 points, 8 wins, 24 fish caught
- Sunday round:
[🥇] György Karasz – 32 points, 10 wins, 35 fish caught
[🥈] Sándor Sági – 31 points, 8 wins, 32 fish caught
[🥉] Sándor Péter Szekeres – 29 points, 9 wins, 28 fish caught
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