Fishing in Enshrouded is more than just catching fish. You can collect rare fish, craft useful bait, find treasure, gather materials for powerful spells, and prepare meals that provide valuable buffs for your adventures. However, getting started can be confusing if you don’t know which fishing rod to use or how the fishing minigame works.
The first thing you need is a fishing rod and some bait. You can craft a basic rod directly from your inventory, but upgrading to a better rod will make it easier to catch rarer fish. You should also learn how to watch fish movements during the fishing minigame, as reacting in the right direction can help you catch fish without wearing down your rod too quickly.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about fishing in Enshrouded, including how to unlock the Fisherman, where to find bait, how to catch rare fish, how to craft useful fishing supplies, and where to find a free Lucky Fishing Rod.
Enshrouded 1.0 Fishing Guide – Fishing Rod, Bait, fish
There are several fishing rods available in Enshrouded, and each has its own advantages. You can begin with a basic rod before upgrading to a better one or finding a special rod while exploring the world.
1. Craft a Simple Fishing Rod
The easiest way to start fishing is to craft a Simple Fishing Rod directly from your inventory.
This rod is suitable for beginners, but it isn’t as strong as the better fishing rods available later. It’s best to start with common and uncommon bait while learning the fishing mechanics.
Once you’re comfortable with the minigame, you can work toward getting a stronger rod that makes catching rare and epic fish easier.
2. Unlock the Fisherman NPC
To obtain a better fishing rod, you’ll need to find and rescue the Fisherman NPC.
You can find the Fisherman’s remains in the Veilwater Basin area, near Dragon Dream Lake. Look for the giant dragon skull in the middle of the lake, known as Old Captain’s Rest, and search the nearby docks.
After finding and rescuing the Fisherman, you can summon him at your base using a Summoning Staff.
The Fisherman provides quests and crafting options, including the materials and recipes needed to make an improved fishing rod.
3. Craft an Excellent Fishing Rod
Once the Fisherman is available at your base, complete his quests and gather the required crafting materials.
The Excellent Fishing Rod is a significant upgrade over the basic rod and allows you to target rarer fish, including rare and epic varieties.
If you’re planning to spend a lot of time fishing, upgrading your rod should be one of your priorities.
How to Find Bait in Enshrouded
You need bait to catch fish, and the easiest way to collect it is to explore the world while watching for small creatures.
Following paths and keeping an eye on the ground is a good strategy because many bugs and frogs move around and are easier to spot when you’re paying attention.
Bait Locations by Biome
Different creatures can be found in different regions. Use the following locations to help you gather bait.
| Bait | Location |
|---|---|
| Fireflies | Springlands, at night |
| Moths | Revel Woods, at night |
| Grasshoppers | Nomad Highlands |
| Scarabs | Kindlewastes |
| Hillbugs | Albaneve Summits |
| Frogs | Veilwater Basin |
Fireflies and moths are particularly easy to spot at night because they appear in the air. Other bugs and frogs can often be found moving around on the ground.
If you’re struggling to find frogs, try the fishing island next to the Ancient Spire in the Veilwater area. It’s a useful place to search for them while preparing for a fishing session.
How to Unlock Crafted Bait
Finding individual bugs and frogs works well when you’re starting out, but collecting bait this way can become time-consuming.
To unlock crafted bait, complete all three steps of the A Nice Day for Fishing quest and show the Fisherman an epic fish.
Once you’ve unlocked the relevant recipes, you can use collected creatures and other crafting ingredients to produce bait in larger quantities. For example, one frog can contribute to a recipe that produces 10 bait, depending on the recipe’s requirements.
Crafted bait is especially useful when you want to spend more time fishing and less time searching for insects.
Best Fishing Spots in Enshrouded
You don’t need a special location to start fishing. Any suitable body of water can work, so you can choose a pond or lake that’s comfortable and convenient.
However, some locations are better suited to particular goals.
Choose Water With Good Visibility
Try to find a fishing spot where you can clearly see beneath the water’s surface. Heavy shadows and glare can make it harder to observe fish movements.
Good visibility matters because watching the fish itself can help you react faster than relying only on the fishing line or bobber.
When possible, choose a spot where you can easily see the fish change direction.
Fish in Different Biomes
You don’t necessarily need to travel to a high-level biome to catch a particular fish. Different fish can be caught in multiple regions, and bait plays an important role in determining what you catch.
For example, the rare Shockfin can be caught in both Veilwater and the Revelwood Forest.
Veilwater is still worth visiting because it has plenty of water and schools of fish. Fishing around these schools may also be worth trying if you’re interested in finding treasure, although the increased treasure chance is not guaranteed.
How to Catch Fish in Enshrouded
Once you have your fishing rod and bait, you’re ready to start.
Follow these steps to learn the fishing minigame.
Step 1: Equip Your Rod and Bait
Equip your fishing rod and select suitable bait for the fish you’re trying to catch.
If you’re using the Simple Fishing Rod, begin with common or uncommon bait while you learn the mechanics.
Step 2: Cast Your Fishing Line
Find a clear patch of water and cast your line.
Casting closer to your character can make it easier to observe the fish and react to its movements. Wait for a fish to approach and trigger the fishing minigame.
Step 3: Understand the Fishing Health Bars
When the minigame begins, you’ll see two health bars:
- Red bar: The fish’s remaining health.
- Green bar: Your fishing rod’s remaining health or endurance.
Your goal is to reduce the fish’s health to zero before your rod’s green bar runs out.
If you handle the fish correctly, you’ll have a better chance of catching it without losing too much rod endurance.
Step 4: Press the Button When the Fish Flips
The fish’s health bar is divided into sections. When the game prompts you to press the mouse button, do so to trigger the next flip and pull the fish closer.
Pay attention to the prompts and avoid pressing buttons randomly. Timing your inputs properly is important, particularly when you’re fishing for rarer fish.
Step 5: Pull in the Opposite Direction
This is one of the most important fishing techniques in Enshrouded.
When the fish moves to the right, pull your rod to the left. When the fish moves to the left, pull your rod to the right.
On a keyboard, you can use A and D to move your rod from side to side. Controller players can follow the button prompts displayed on their screens.
Try to react as soon as you see the fish change direction. Watching the fish directly can help you respond more quickly and preserve your rod’s endurance.
Fishing tip: Don’t rely entirely on the bobber or fishing line. Focus on the fish’s actual movement so you can counter its direction as soon as possible.
How to Catch Rare and Epic Fish
Catching rare fish becomes easier when you combine a suitable rod, the right bait, and good reactions during the minigame.
Here are a few ways to improve your results:
- Upgrade from the Simple Fishing Rod when possible.
- Use bait appropriate for the fish you want to catch.
- Choose water with good visibility.
- Watch the fish’s movements and pull in the opposite direction.
- Complete the Fisherman’s quests to unlock additional crafting options.
- Keep fishing in convenient locations rather than assuming you must visit the highest-level biome.
Some fish, including Yellowfin Tuna, Thornridge, and Shockfin, can be particularly useful because you can process them into crafting materials or prepare them as food.
What to Do With Fish in Enshrouded
Fish aren’t just for collecting. Once you’ve caught them, you can use them for crafting, combat supplies, and meals.
1. Break Down Fish for Crafting Materials
The Fisherman’s crafting area allows you to process certain fish into useful components.
These materials can be used in other crafting recipes, including bait and special items.
One particularly useful example is the Shockfin, which can be processed into an Electric Nerve. This material can be used to craft Shock Wisp Staff Charges.
These charges are useful for magic-focused characters, and Shock Wisp spells can be particularly effective against the Hydra Doll boss.
2. Grill Fish for Oxygen Buffs
You can cook fish or grill them using the Seafood Grill.
To unlock the grill, complete the Farmer’s Seafood Grill quest. Once you’ve obtained it, you can prepare fish for useful food effects.
Grilled fish can provide additional maximum oxygen, which is especially helpful when exploring underwater areas.
If you’re planning a diving expedition, preparing fish beforehand is a useful way to improve your survivability and exploration time.
3. Prepare More Advanced Fish Meals
The Farmer can also help you prepare more elaborate meals using fish meat and other ingredients.
Some useful examples include:
- Grilled Fish with Coconut Rice: A more elaborate fish meal.
- Sushi: A useful option for obtaining a maximum oxygen buff.
- Tomato Fish Soup: Another fish-based meal with useful food effects.
- Fish Chowder: A recipe that uses fish alongside several other ingredients.
Some recipes require rare fish or a larger number of ingredients, so check the crafting requirements before using your entire collection.
If you mainly need oxygen for underwater exploration, compare the available recipes and choose one that gives you the buff you need without wasting valuable materials.
How to Get the Free Lucky Fishing Rod
If you’re still using the Simple Fishing Rod and haven’t gathered enough resources to craft an upgrade, you can search for a Lucky Fishing Rod in the Veilwater area.
This rod is a useful early alternative because it can be found in a chest rather than crafted from scratch.
Step 1: Travel to the Veilwater Area
Head to the Veilwater region and locate the Ancient Spire.
Be prepared for a dangerous journey. The area contains powerful enemies, including wasps that can deal substantial damage if you’re not equipped for the encounter.
Bring suitable weapons, armor, and healing supplies before heading out.
Step 2: Head North Toward the Ruins
From the Ancient Spire, travel north toward the suspicious ruins identified as the Dra’Dol ruin.
Look around the area for a patch of flowers and a suspicious sandy spot marked with an X.
The flowers can also be useful if you’re gathering ingredients for dye crafting.
Step 3: Defeat the Wasps
Clear out the wasps around the marked location before digging.
These enemies can hit hard, so take your time and avoid rushing into the area without preparing for combat.
Step 4: Dig at the X Mark
Once the area is safe, equip your pickaxe and dig into the middle of the X-shaped marking.
Continue digging until you uncover a hidden silver chest.
Step 5: Open the Chest
Open the chest to obtain the Lucky Fishing Rod, along with other loot.
The chest can contain additional rewards, making this location worthwhile if you’re exploring the area anyway.
Fishing in Enshrouded is a rewarding activity once you understand how rods, bait, and the fishing minigame work together. Start with the Simple Fishing Rod, collect bait while exploring, and complete the Fisherman’s quests to unlock better equipment and crafted bait.
When fishing, focus on the fish’s movements and pull in the opposite direction to reduce the risk of losing your rod’s endurance. Remember that you can fish in different biomes, process your catches into useful crafting materials, and cook fish for buffs that help with underwater exploration.
If you want a quick equipment upgrade, look for the hidden Lucky Fishing Rod chest in Veilwater. It is especially useful if you want to focus on treasure rather than catching fish alone.