The fishing pond in the Ocarina of Time remake is at Lake Hylia. Catch a big enough fish as young Link and you get a Piece of Heart. Do it again as adult Link and you get the Golden Scale. Here's where the pond is, what it costs, how big the fish need to be and what we know about the Hylian Loach.
Key takeaways
- The fishing pond is the Fishing-Pond Man's hut at Lake Hylia. You can fish as young Link and as adult Link.
- Renting a rod costs 30 rupees as an adult. As a child it's 10 or 30 rupees, depending on who you ask. You pay again every time you come back.
- Young Link wins a Piece of Heart for a fish of about 10 pounds. Adult Link wins the Golden Scale for a fish of about 13 pounds.
- The Golden Scale lets you dive 9 metres, which you need for a Piece of Heart at the Lakeside Laboratory.
- Fish caught with the sinking lure don't count for either prize.
Where is the fishing pond in the Ocarina of Time remake?
It's in the hut on the far side of Lake Hylia, run by the Fishing-Pond Man. As young Link you can walk straight in.
As adult Link, getting there takes a little more work, because the lake is dry until you've finished the Water Temple. There are two ways across:
- Magic Bean platform: plant a Magic Bean in the soft soil by the lake as young Link, then ride the platform across as an adult.
- Scarecrow's Song: play it to summon Pierre, then Hookshot over to him.
If you haven't learned the Scarecrow's Song yet, see all 12 songs.
How much does the fishing pond cost?
The adult price is 30 rupees. Every remake guide we checked agrees on that.
The child price is less clear. Some reports say 10 rupees as young Link, and others say 30 for both ages. Either way, the rod is only yours for that visit. Leave the hut and you'll pay again when you come back. Bring at least 30 rupees, and you're covered whichever it turns out to be.
How do you fish in the Ocarina of Time remake?
Walk to the middle of the bank. The big fish tend to sit near the centre of the pond, so get as close to it as you can.
- Press ZR to cast.
- Tap down on the Left Stick slowly to wiggle the lure and get a fish's attention.
- When it bites, press ZR to hook it.
- Move the Left Stick left or right with the fish as it swims to tire it out.
- Press ZR to reel it in.
No one has reported motion control fishing. Nintendo only mentions motion controls for aiming ranged weapons like the Fairy Bow and the Hookshot.
When you've caught your fish, tell the Fishing-Pond Man you're finished. He only hands over a prize once you've said you're done.
How big a fish do you need?
Most guides give the weights in pounds. A few give lengths in centimetres instead, and those numbers don't line up exactly.
| Prize | Age | Pounds | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piece of Heart | Young Link | 10 lb | 50 to 56 cm |
| Golden Scale | Adult Link | 13 lb | 60 to 65 cm |
We don't yet know why some players see centimetres and others see pounds. It might depend on your region or language settings. If your board shows centimetres, aim for at least 56 cm as a child and 65 cm as an adult, and you'll clear every figure reported so far.
How do you get the Golden Scale?
Go back as adult Link, rent a rod for 30 rupees, and land a fish of 13 pounds or more. Then tell the Fishing-Pond Man you're done, and he hands over the Golden Scale.
It's worth the trouble. The Golden Scale takes your diving depth from 3 metres to 9 metres. That's what you need to reach the bottom of the pool at the Lakeside Laboratory next door, where there's another Piece of Heart.
How do you get the Piece of Heart from fishing?
As young Link, land a fish of about 10 pounds and tell the Fishing-Pond Man you're done. It's one of the earlier Heart Pieces you can grab, because the pond is open to young Link. For the rest, see every Heart Piece location.
Is the Hylian Loach in the Ocarina of Time remake?
Yes. Players have reported catching it in the remake.
How often it turns up is still an open question. In the original game, the Loach only appeared on every fourth visit, and those visits had to be paid for one after the other. One player says the remake works the same way. Another says the spawning rules have changed, but hasn't said how.
It's also easy to spook. If it stops reacting to your lure, it's been scared. Nobody has published the Loach's weight or reward in the remake yet. In the original, it didn't count toward the record anyway.
What about the sinking lure?
There's a sign by the pond saying the sinking lure is forbidden. It means it: fish caught with it don't count for the Piece of Heart or the Golden Scale, however big they are.
In the original game, the lure only showed up after you'd won that age's prize, and it was invisible. You had to roll around the bank until you picked it up. Remake players disagree on whether it now turns up every fourth visit, or every visit once you've won the prize. Either way, it's no use for the prizes.
Was the fishing pond always this annoying?
Yes. It was some really annoying troll to do, back on the N64. What got me was the rules, and the fish not even showing up.
Did I ever get the prize? I would have given up for sure. Most of the original game will have been from a magazine guide, with mostly the obvious stuff being noticed by me and my brother.
What changed from the N64 version?
A few things look different:
- Price: the N64 pond cost 20 rupees. The remake costs 30 as an adult.
- Controls: you cast and reel with ZR and fight the fish with the Left Stick.
- Units: remake guides report sizes in both centimetres and pounds.
- Loach: one report says its spawning rules have changed, but nobody has explained how yet.
The prizes, the sinking lure ban and the Lakeside Laboratory dive all work the same as before. Nintendo hasn't listed any fishing changes itself. For the bigger changes across the whole game, see what's different from the original.
If you're planning your route, the Golden Scale fits neatly after the Water Temple, when the lake is full again. See the dungeons in order for where that falls.
FAQ
Where is the fishing pond in the Ocarina of Time remake?
At Lake Hylia, in the Fishing-Pond Man's hut. As an adult, reach it by Magic Bean platform or by the Scarecrow's Song and Hookshot.
How much does fishing cost in the Ocarina of Time remake?
30 rupees as an adult. Reports for young Link say 10 or 30.
What size fish do you need for the Golden Scale?
About 13 pounds, caught as adult Link. Guides that use centimetres say 60 to 65 cm.
What does the Golden Scale do?
It lets you dive 9 metres deep, which you need for the Piece of Heart at the Lakeside Laboratory.
Does the sinking lure count?
No. Fish caught with the sinking lure don't win either prize.
