The big question was whether the blind angler would catch a fish, or if we would end up buying one at the market—though plenty else happened while we waited for a bite. I went fishing near Esztergom with Krisztián and Dukát.

On a beautiful autumn day, we visited Esztergom—specifically, Kerek Lake in the Búbánat Valley—which we had chosen as our fishing spot. First, we took a walk around to stretch our legs. Dukát skillfully guided Krisztián Barbalics along the narrow paths, navigating terrain that was unfamiliar to both of them.

Krisztián’s guide dogs have always gone with him into the nature. He went on many hikes with his first dog, Nina, just as he does now with Dukát. It was clear that the yellow Labrador enjoys getting out of his familiar surroundings. Krisztián can rely on him while hiking, too: whenever he feels unsure, he puts the harness on the dog, lets him guide him through the tricky spot, and then—whenever possible—takes the harness off so the dog can continue moving freely. “He notices when I don’t feel safe; he comes closer and helps me,” says Krisztián. Since he is not yet familiar with the area around Kerek-tó, he entrusted himself to Dukát, who guided him with great confidence.

“Both of my dogs were a huge help in getting around, enabling me to reach any destination. It might sound strange, but I feel a stronger bond with dogs than with people. This is because I have been deeply disappointed by people, whereas dogs never let me down.”

When we set up camp under a tree, several fellow anglers came over to exchange a few words with us. It hadn’t occurred to us what a spectacle it is when a visually impaired person arrives at the lakeside with a guide dog—with the clear, unmistakable intention of catching fish.

It might have seemed odd, but no one gave us much hope that we would actually catch anything. Of course, the other anglers couldn’t have known what we did: that Krisztián had prepared thoroughly. He had done his research—finding out what to use for groundbaiting, which bait to use, and which part of the lakeside offered the best chance of success. As for his gear, it had been set up with absolute precision.

He dreams of nature

Krisztián was accompanied by his nephew, who came along to help with the fishing; the two share a very close bond, and Krisztián can count on him in other matters as well. Although Krisztián still has some residual vision, he can no longer make out finer details; consequently, Áron assisted by attaching the hook and guiding Krisztián to cast the rig (the line, hook, and feeder) in the right direction. He performed this task flawlessly, executing several casts of 50–60 meters.

Krisztián did everything he could on his own—mixing and scattering the fish feed—and he remained in full control of the situation even when the little bell signaled a bite.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves; after all, while the hooks were in the water, we had plenty of time to talk about many things. Back in his elementary school days, Krisztián’s parents had enrolled him in a fishing club, but he gave it up following an unsuccessful fishing competition. In his case, too, fishing is linked to a love of nature.

“I love nature; sitting by the water is wonderful. I enjoy the sound of the wind and the chirping of birds—it has a soothing effect, allowing for deeper reflection or simply a chance to recharge.”

Krisztián remarked that, back when he could see, he used to cycle a lot—sometimes along the banks of the Danube, other times in wooded areas. He was drawn to nature even then, though he didn’t engage with it in the same way; at that time, his focus was on the cycling itself.

“Now that I cannot see, I pay closer attention to subtle sounds and cues; I use my ears to observe nature, and from this, I construct a mental image. It is, for the most part, a fabricated image—one I piece together from the sounds. When a sighted person accompanies me, I ask him/her about what is around us, and I incorporate that information into the image as well. I form a rough mental picture. Sometimes, weeks later, I dream again of this time spent in nature. It features vegetation and buildings—much like a nature trail or an organized environment.”

Krisztián shared that he lost his sight at a young age in a workplace accident—one for which he was not at fault. Following a long rehabilitation, Nina brought a turning point to his life, enabling him to return to an active lifestyle. You can watch our video about this here. Nina’s passing took a heavy toll on Krisztián, but not wanting to give up his independent life, he applied for a guide dog from our foundation. He resumed fishing with Dukát by his side.

Krisztián and the fish

We had been waiting for a bite for an hour when an angler approached us and mentioned that he hadn’t caught anything here for two weeks—which, presumably, is why he had time to chat with us. His musings were cut short, however, when a bell on one of the rods began to ring. We watched with excitement as Krisztián reeled in, wondering what he might have hooked. Before long, a fine young carp was in the net.

“Now, this is what I call sheer luck,” Krisztián said with a smile.

Previously, he had been reluctant to handle fish because the scales felt as though they were cutting his fingers. This was the first time he had held a fish while fishing, and it didn’t feel unpleasant at all. The small carp spent only a short time on the bank; Áron carefully removed the hook from its mouth, applied an antiseptic, and then handed the fish to Krisztián.

“I was afraid it might slip out of my hands, so I held on a bit tighter. Then, when I threw it back into the water, it could be free again. I certainly don’t want to cause them any harm.”

After a successful fishing trip, we ordered pizza from Esztergom and, feeling completely at ease, spent the time sharing stories on one of the most beautiful days of autumn. Dukát had spent most of the day just resting, so he was eager to have a good run around once we were close to home. According to Krisztián, he didn’t mind at all that the fish took center stage today.