Fishing arrived in Enshrouded with the Wake of the Waters update, bringing a fully fledged aquatic activity to the open-world survival RPG. Whether you want to catch rare creatures for cooking, complete quests, or simply take a break from combat, the fishing system rewards players who understand how rods, bait tiers, and hotspots work together. This guide walks you through every step, from crafting your first rod to unlocking advanced bait recipes through the Fisher NPC.
Craft your first fishing rod
How Do You Get a Fishing Rod in Enshrouded?
Before casting a single line, you need the right tool. The Simple Fishing Rod is your entry point, and it is craftable from the start without needing any special unlocks.
Crafting the Simple Fishing Rod
Open your Craft menu and gather the following materials:
- 2x Twigs
- 2x Metal Scraps
- 1x String
These are all early-game resources found throughout Embervale, so you can put together your first rod without venturing far from your base. As you progress and complete specific quests, better rods become available that make the whole process faster and more rewarding.
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Complete the Hunter's "Unknown Waters" quest as early as possible. It rewards you with a Simple Fishing Rod directly, saving you the crafting materials for other projects.Upgrading to the Excellent Fishing Rod
The Excellent Fishing Rod is unlocked by completing the "Nice Day for Fishing" quest given by the Fisher NPC. This rod has significantly better stats than the basic version, making it far easier to reel in stronger fish that resist your line.
According to the Fishing page on the Official Enshrouded Wiki, each rod carries two key stats:
- Fishing Strength: Determines how quickly the fish's stamina (the red bar) drains when you reel in.
- Fish Stamina Resistance: Affects how long the fish can fight back before it tires out.
Rod stats affect reel speed
What Bait Do You Need and How Do You Get It?
Bait is not optional in Enshrouded. Without it, you will not attract fish to your line. Each bait type is tied to specific biomes and fish rarities, so matching your bait to your target location is essential.
How Bait Works
Bait is crafted from small critters collected across Embervale. These include insects and amphibians scattered throughout the world. Once you have the raw materials, you combine them using bait recipes unlocked through quests.
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Bait recipes are not available by default. You must complete NPC quests to unlock them before you can craft any bait at all.
Bait Tiers and Rarity
After finishing the "Nice Day for Fishing" quest with the Fisher, you unlock recipes for four distinct bait tiers:
- Common Fishing Bait
- Uncommon Fishing Bait
- Rare Fishing Bait
- Epic Fishing Bait
Higher-tier bait attracts rarer fish and is generally required when fishing in more demanding biomes like the Veilwater Basin. The Simple Fishing Bait recipe, unlocked earlier through the Hunter's "Unknown Waters" quest, is your starting point before you access the full bait progression.
Simple bait unlocked via quest
Where Are the Best Fishing Spots?
You can fish in any body of water in Enshrouded, but not all water is equal. The most productive locations are identified by visible ripples and circular wave patterns on the surface. These visual cues mark fish-rich hotspots where your chances of a catch are noticeably higher.
The Veilwater Basin, the tropical biome introduced alongside the fishing system, contains the highest concentration of premium fishing spots. This is also where both the Hunter and Fisher NPCs send you for their quests, making it the natural hub for all fishing activity.
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Fishing in still water with no visible ripples will produce far fewer bites. Always scan the surface before casting and reposition if the area looks calm.
For a detailed breakdown of hotspot locations and water mechanics, the full patch notes for Update #7 v.0.9.0.0 cover how Keen Games designed water as a dynamic, simulated system in this update.
Quest Progression: Unlocking the Full Fishing System
The fishing system in Enshrouded is gated behind two key quests. Rushing these early opens up every bait tier and rod upgrade available.
Hunter Quest: "Unknown Waters"
- Reward: Simple Fishing Rod, Simple Fishing Bait Recipe
- When: Available during early Veilwater Basin exploration
- Crafted from: Standard Crafting Menu after completion
Fisher Quest: "Nice Day for Fishing"
- Reward: Excellent Fishing Rod, Common through Epic Bait Recipes
- When: Follow-up progression after the Hunter quest chain
- Importance: This is the gateway to all advanced fishing content
Completing both quests in sequence gives you access to the full fishing toolkit. Skipping them means you are locked to the most basic equipment indefinitely.
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