Fishing in Mina the Hollower sits entirely off the critical path, which means a surprising number of players finish the game without ever casting a line. That's a shame, because the Fishing Rod is one of the most versatile sidearms in the game, and completing the collection earns you the Gilded Rod plus the Fishin' Reactor achievement. There are 16 unique fish scattered across nearly every region of Tenebrous Isle, and tracking them all down requires revisiting areas you've already cleared.
How do you get the Fishing Rod in Mina the Hollower?
The Fishing Rod is found at the Backwaters Fishing Hole, a small area tucked between Western Wilds and Nox's Bayou. It's easy to miss because reaching it requires a specific detour rather than following the main route.
Equipping the Fishing Rod sidearm
Here's the exact path to reach Backwaters:
- Travel to Western Wilds, located west/northwest of Ossex. The first subsection is called Occupied Bridge.
- Head all the way left, passing over lava sections and enemies.
- Hit the wall and take the path south into Shanty Swamp.
- Continue south through Shanty Swamp to the next screen.
- You'll see a signpost at the entrance. Head east to find the Fishing Hole and the NPC Irwin, who hands over the rod.
Once Irwin gives you the rod, a shelf appears nearby. Every fish you catch gets mounted as a trophy on that shelf automatically.
What can you actually catch?
Fish shadows aren't guaranteed to be fish. When you drop your lure on a shadow, you might pull up:
- Roses (health restore)
- Tulips (plasma restore)
- A plasma vial
- A bomb
- Or an actual fish
Once a fish breaks the surface, you have to attack it like an enemy to collect its trophy. Don't stand over deep water when you reel in, because if the fish drops before you grab it, it'll sink and you'll need to try again. Some fish can also damage you on contact, so stay sharp.
All 16 fish locations in Mina the Hollower
Each region of Tenebrous Isle has at least one unique fish species. You can catch the regional fish in any body of water within that region, so you don't need to hit a specific pond unless noted below.
All 16 trophies on the shelf
A note on conflicting fish names
Some fish go by slightly different names depending on where you look. The Puffer Beak is also called Bouncy Puffy in some references, and the Triple Flagellum may appear as Flag Fish. The locations are consistent regardless of the name variant you see.
How to get the fishing upgrades
There are two fishing-related upgrades worth knowing about:
Gilded Rod
The Gilded Rod is your reward for completing the full collection. Return to Durwin at the Fishing Hole after catching all 16 fish and he'll hand it over. The Gilded Rod lets you cast noticeably farther than the standard rod, making distant fishing spots much easier to reach. You'll also unlock the Fishin' Reactor trophy/achievement at the same time.
Angler's Raft
The Angler's Raft is a separate sidearm, not a rod upgrade, but it's genuinely useful mid-collection. It summons a floating platform that lets you stand on water temporarily, solving the problem of fishing spots that are only accessible from the water's surface.
To find it:
- Go to Sandfalls: Sifted Sands.
- Find the stairs section that leads toward Bone Beach.
- Head left from there and use a bomb on a suspicious wall section to open a hidden path.
- Use a kear to progress through the next section.
- The chest at the end contains the Angler's Raft.
Why bother with fishing at all?
Beyond the Gilded Rod and achievement, the Fishing Rod itself is worth using throughout the run. Hooking enemies lets Mina pull herself toward them, which opens up traversal options that aren't obvious at first. You can cross hazards, reach elevated platforms, and close gaps during combat using the same tool you use to fish.
Successful casts also reward healing items, plasma, explosives, and other consumables, making fishing a practical resource stop in dangerous regions rather than just a collectible detour. For players pushing toward full completion, check out the all trinket locations guide for more collectible hunting across Tenebrous Isle.
Fishing Rod doubles as traversal tool
If you're chasing every upgrade alongside the fish collection, the weapon upgrade locations guide covers everything hidden across the island. For players who keep dying and losing bones before they can spend them, the spark container upgrade locations guide is worth reading before you go fishing in the later, harder regions.
For the full collection of walkthroughs covering secrets, upgrades, and region-specific challenges, the Mina the Hollower guides hub has everything organized in one place.