The Angler's Guide to Fishing in LOTRO

From LOTRO Lorebook

Original content created by community member: aethelberht

Hi all! When fishing went live on Thursday, April 24, 2008 I started this post to collect all possible information about LOTRO's first hobby. It's been updated to include any new relevant info from Book 14. As always, I'm looking forward to learning anything & everything new that's been added or revised, and will continue to update this guide as any new info comes to light. Many thanks to all the folks who have & are providing such great notes & feedback. Any and all new info is always very welcome.~ aethelberht

Note: There is a 10-level-per-day cap, with a current max level of 200. The cap resets about midnight Eastern Daylight Time (-4 GMT).

For the record, I started this post 7:15PM Sunday April 20, 2008, 3rd day into the Roheryn Book 13 patched release. I began this post at Fishing Skill 31.

• Current Edit: 7:30AM Saturday, August 2, 2008
• Current Fishing Skill: 200

[edit] Getting Started

To begin fishing, simply go to your local Hobby Master. (See locations below under Hobby Masters, Vendors, & Quests.) They will teach you how to fish, give you a basic fishing pole, and give you a short quest to find the local Fishing Supplier. Then just find a body of water and start fishing!

You'll find the fishing icon in the Hobbies tab of your Character screen. Drag that to a free slot. Then when you're ready to fish, click the icon and you'll cast your line. In anywhere between 1 and 30 seconds, you'll see the tip of the rod dive down, meaning you've got a nibble. Immediately click the icon again to reel in your catch. You have less than a second to make that second click, so you have to watch closely.

The Compleat Angler's Visual Guide to Fishing in Middle-Earth, created by LOTRO's DisposableHERO, will show you all of these Hobby Masters. As well as screenshots of all Fishing Suppliers, fish varieties, equipment, cooking recipes, and food. An amazing Web site.

[edit] What Can I Catch?

Below is a list of known catches. With the exception of the asterisked fish (more details on them farther down), every one of these fish can be caught in any stream, lake, bay, pool, river, rill, gully, inlet, creek, brook, pond, or muddy puddle anywhere in the LOTRO world. Find your favorite spot and cast away!

The Compleat Angler's Visual Guide to Fishing in Middle-Earth, created by LOTRO's DisposableHERO, will show you pictures of every last one of these catches along with their accompanying text!

[edit] How Do I Level Up?

If your fishing level is less than or equal to the "Levels Thru" number in the chart, you gain 1 fishing level for the catch--if you haven't reached your daily cap. (White #s are accurate. Red #s are approximate. Green #s are wildly approximate.) So if you're level 5 and you catch a goldfish, you go up to level 6. However, if you're level 6 and catch a goldfish, you will not go up to level 7.

*These fish offer many variants that differ by location and fishing level. See "Zone-Specific Fish" chart below.

[edit] Trophy Fish for Decorations

Each non-asterisked fish above has a rare "trophy" counterpart that can also be caught anywhere. They generally can be caught starting about 5 levels above the regular fish, and their "levels thru" # is also about 5 above the regular. Below is a list of trophy names & links to their images. If you catch one, take it to the fishing taxidermist in Bree-Town near the vault. He'll mount it free as a wall decoration for your home. The decorations are tradable. Full credit & huge thanks go to Borgiered for all his time & effort collecting these, and to Instigator from allakhazam. (Salmon varieties, which are zone-specific, are all trophy fish. See Borgiered's list for pictures of the various salmon trophies. Darters, Trout, and Sturgeon offer no trophies.)

[edit] Zone-Specific Fish and Their Variants

Most fish can be caught virtually everywhere. But a few species offer several variants, related both to fishing levels and zone. To catch them, you must be the appropriate fishing level and fishing in an appropriate zone of the world. Since they're quite rare, level numbers are still iffy as of 6/3. If you catch any of the fish shown below (or a new one not shown), please feel free to post what it was, what level you were, and where you were. Here is a basic breakdown. Approximate min. fishing level ("FL") is in parentheses. All are worth 25c each.

[edit] The Use of Bait

There are 3 types of bait:

• Leech
• Nightcrawler
• Red Wiggler

Supposedly increasing in effectiveness from first to last. Bait can be bought from Fishing Suppliers (see Fishing Suppliers below).

**** Note on bait: Through all levels and all types of bait, including Book 14 update, there remains zero evidence for consistent improvement in fishing time, catch quality, # of trophies, # of zone-specifics, anything. Bait simply doesn't seem to work. Current suggestion: save your money. ****

[edit] Equipment and Gear

[edit] Poles

• Basic Pole -- Given by hobbyist when you first learn the hobby
• Yew Pole -- +1 fishing level (player-crafted, recipe at Novice Woodworker)
• Well-made Yew Pole -- +3 fishing level (player-crafted, recipe at Novice Woodworker)
• Lebethron Pole -- +4 fishing level (player-crafted, recipe at Expert Woodworker)
• Well-made Lebethron Pole -- +5 fishing level (player-crafted, recipe at Expert Woodworker)

[edit] Gear

• Fishing Vest -- Outfitters
• Fisherman's Shirt & Waders -- Quest Reward in Forochel (see quest info below)

So far, gear is all cosmetic. No clothing known yet that adds any fishing buff.

**** Note on poles: There is good evidence that a +5 pole can help you level-cap quickly in early levels. However, the bonus quickly drops off and is unnoticeable after about level 40-50. Poles with a bonus do not let you catch above your level. See Catch Test section. ****

[edit] Hobby Masters, Fishing Suppliers, and Quest Givers

[edit] Hobby Masters

• Estmar Bolger

Location: Michel Delving, Bird & Baby Inn

Purpose: Starts you fishing with quest to find Misty Bolger in Bywater

• Haldor

Location: Rivendell, Last Homely House

Purpose: Starts you fishing with quest to find Garbert in Tal Bruinen

• Henry Oakeshott

Location: Bree, Scholars' Stair Archives

Purpose: Starts you fishing with quest to find Joy Bloomer in Staddle

• Refkell

Location: Thorin's Hall, near Bard

Purpose: Starts you fishing with quest to find Nokki S. of Noglond

[edit] Fishing Suppliers

• Misty Bolger

Location: Bywater, N of town near small footbridge

Purpose: Fishing Supplier, bait vendor

• Joy Bloomer

Location: Staddle, by Little Staddlemere

Purpose: Fishing Supplier, bait vendor

• Nokki

Location: Ered Luin, South of Noglond

Purpose: Fishing Supplier, bait vendor

• Garbert

Location: Tal Bruinen, Trollshaws along Bruinen S of Ford

Purpose: Fishing Supplier, bait vendor

• Rusu

Location: Forochel, Suryi-Kyla

Purpose: Reputation Vendor sells Flounder recipes (see recipes below)

[edit] Quest Givers

• N/A

Location: Forochel, camp up hill near road to Ja-Rannit

Quest: "Fisherman's Friend"; Level 48; reward: "Fisherman's Shirt & Waders"

• Nora

Location Forochel, Suryi-Kyla

Quest: "Empty Larder"; Level 47; Must catch 10 "oily fish"; reward: 23s 80c, 500 Rep

• Taiop

Location: Forochel, Hylje-Leiri

Quest: "Bounty of the Sea"; Lvl 46 (repeatable); Catch 12 Icebay Salmon "where sea bubbles/boils"; reward: 37s 52c, 500 Rep

[edit] Titles/Rewards and Deeds

[edit] Titles/Rewards

• Apprentice Angler --- Reach Fishing Level 10
• Journeyman Angler --- Reach Fishing Level 50
• Expert Angler --- Reach Fishing Level 100
• Master Angler--- Reach Fishing Level 150
• Lord/Lady of Streams --- Reach Fishing Level 200
• Compleat Angler --- Catch 50lb Salmon
• Darter Group Trophy --- Catch All 9 Darter Varieties
• Sturgen Group Trophy --- Catch All 9 Sturgeon Varieties
• Trout Group Trophy --- Catch All 9 Trout Varieties

[edit] Deeds

• Salmon King--- Catch 50lb Salmon (Hidden Deed, only shows in log when you catch one)
• Darter-master --- Catch All 9 Darter Varieties
• Sturgeon-master --- Catch All 9 Sturgeon Varieties
• Trout-master --- Catch All 9 Trout Varieties

[edit] Recipes Involving Fishing

[edit] Cooking

• Fried Dace w/Mushrooms

Stats: Apprentice (+2 Will, +6 if critted), recipe from Novice Cook

• Catfish Cakes

Stats: Cooking, Journeyman (+6 Will, +14 if critted), recipe from Novice Cook

• Perch Fillet

Stats: Expert (+12 Will, +23 if critted),recipe from Expert Cook

• Golden Mullet Chowder

Stats: Artisan (+18 Will, +32 if critted), recipe from Expert Cook

• Bass with Carrots & Onions

Stats: Master (+24 Will, +41 if critted), recipe from Expert Cook

• Flounder w/Bacon

Stats: Artisan (146 Morale & 110 Power every 30 sec/300 sec), recipe from Forochel Rep Supplier Rusu--Friend Standing

• Baked Flounder

Stats: Artisan (146 Morale every 30 sec for 300 sec),recipe from Forochel Rep Supplier Rusu--Ally Standing

• Flounder Fillet

Stats: Artisan (110 Power every 30 sec for 300 sec),recipe from Forochel Rep Supplier Rusu--Kindred Standing

[edit] Special/Unique Fishing Locations and Catches

[edit] Known

• Ettenmoors: Nothing to fish except weeds
• Dungeon Instances: All appear to be fishable, catching the normal range of fish as well as appropriate zone-specific fish
• The Rift: Want to fish next to the Balrog? No problem, catch the full range in Thaurlach's pool
• Forochel, Western side near wrecked ship: "Where water bubbles & boils" catch Icebay Salmon for Forochel Rep (see Quests above)

[edit] Possible

• Thorin's Hall Rep Area: NPC describes "legendary" fish where he's fishing, no more info

[edit] Bugs

[edit] Known

• AH "Hobbies" Section not showing anything: In AH, searching at "Hobbies" level is empty. Must drill down to Fishing or go up to the whole AH
• Carn Dum Fishing: Even though the waters in Carn Dum are insta-death to players, they can still be fished for a nice range of healthy catches!
• Trophy Plaques Disappearing: Sometimes trophies placed in homes have their plaques disappear, leaving only the fish visible; hook issue?

[edit] Possible

• Missing Hobby Master in Celondim/Duillond: All other starter zones get one, but not the Elf starter zone; seems there should be

[edit] Suspected

• Fishing Buffs from Bait: Bait does not seem to contribute in any appreciable, consistent way to fishing ability
• Forochel Rep Supplier Recipes: Forochel Rep Supplier sells better recipes at lower reputation level, worse recipes at higher
• Hobby Text in Character Panel: Only describes the way a hobbit can spend a lazy but productive day, seems a dis on elves, humans, and dwarves

[edit] Fishing Catch Tests on Live Server

In order to keep this page size down, all early tests have been removed to this post. The tests below are in chronological order, most recent at the top.

(18) Test by Aethelberht of nightcrawler vs. no bait. 7/24-26. Bridgefields, lvl 200, +5 pole, 100 catches each. Details here.

With nightcrawler: Junk - 13%; Regular - 55%; Trophy - 6%; Rare/25c - 1%; Recipe - 25%

Without any bait: Junk - 15%; Regular - 55%; Trophy - 6%; Rare/25c - 0%; Recipe - 24%

Conclusion: Meh. No significant difference between the two at all. There's still no consistent indication at all that bait works at all, on any level. More tests to follow, just to drive the point home to Turbine if for no other reason!

(17) Test by Aethelberht of nightcrawler vs. no bait. 5/26. Bywater, lvl 200, +5 pole, 100 catches each. Details here.

With nightcrawler: Junk - 13%; Regular - 58%; Trophy - 3%; Rare/25c - 0%; Recipe - 26%

Without any bait: Junk - 16%; Regular - 56%; Trophy - 7%; Rare/25c - 0%; Recipe - 21%

Conclusion: Wow. Very similar results to the previous test (#16 below) with the same conditions. With nightcrawler, twice in a row I've gotten fewer trophies but more recipe fish. This seems pretty interesting. Definitely worth yet another test.

(16) Test by Aethelberht of nightcrawler vs. no bait. 5/20. Bywater, lvl 200, +5 pole, 100 catches each. Details here.

With nightcrawler: Junk - 14%; Regular - 53%; Trophy - 3%; Rare/25c - 0%; Recipe - 30%

Without any bait: Junk - 10%; Regular - 54%; Trophy - 10%; Rare/25c - 1%; Recipe - 25%

Conclusion: Well, with bait my trophies & rares went down the drain, junk was up. But there -is- that recipe spike. Worth a second identical test.

(15) Ongoing tests by Telab to look at catch-type averages over time. Test updated 5/14. Latest details here. Starting at level 70 Telab has level-capped, made 100 catches, and recorded overall spread of catches. Currently at 800 catches.

(14) Test by Aethelberht of +5 pole vs. +0 pole. 5/11. SE Forochel, lvl 172, no bait, 100 catches each. Details here.

With +5 pole: Junk - 12%; Regular - 49%; Trophy - 12%; Rare/25c - 1%; Recipe - 26%

With +0 pole: Junk - 9%; Regular - 64%; Trophy - 8%; Rare/25c - 2%; Recipe - 17%

Conclusion: +0 pole gave less junk and more rares, but less trophy & less recipe. Adding this one to the record without trying to draw conclusions.

(13) Test by Aethelberht of red wiggler vs. no bait, 5/8. Eavespires (NW Evendim), lvl 152, +0 pole, 100 catches each. Details here.

With red wiggler: Junk - 16%; Regular - 55%; Trophy 7%; Recipe 21%; Rare/25c - 1%; high-level fish caught - 19

Without any bait: Junk - 11%; Regular - 55%; Trophy 10%; Recipe 23%; Rare/25c - 1%; high-level fish caught - 21

Conclusion: Still no consistent evidence that bait has any positive effect at all.

(12) Ongoing tests of +0 pole vs. +5 pole levelling alts from 1 to 11. Test updated 5/6. Details here. I have begun to create alts with the sole purpose of levelling their fishing skill from 1 to 11, then destroying and recreating them. There will be an equal number of tests using a +0 pole and a +5 pole. Any and all anglers are welcome to post their results; I'll keep the tally together on the details page. Conclusion: Still testing.

(11) Test by Rillas of +5 pole vs. +0 pole, 5/4. Falathlorn, Ered Luin. 100 catches, Level 111, no bait. Details here.

With +5 pole: Junk - 17; Regular fish - 62; Trophy fish - 5; Rare/25c fish - 2; Recipe fish - 14

With +0 pole: Junk - 18; Regular fish - 52; Trophy fish - 8; Rare/25c fish - 2; Recipe fish - 20

Conclusion: No evidence of better catches with +5 pole.

More certainly to follow. Fish on!!