Fallout 76 Guide to Going Fission

Introduced in Fallout 76’s Gone Fission update, fishing is a peaceful and fun activity that’s great for hanging out and swapping your favorite apocalyptic horror stories with your best buds.

If you’re diving into Fallout 76 for the first time and want to know more about how to get started fishing, this handy guide has got you covered.

We also suggest checking out this great, informative video guide made by ShySloth to get a closer look at fishing in game:

Fisherman’s Rest

Age Required

To start off, you’ll need a fishing rod and bait.

You can get both of these new items in Fisherman’s Rest, a new location in the Mire included in the Gone Fission update. Once you enter the area, you will receive a radio signal on your Pip-Boy which will guide you to the doorstep of The Fisherman, Captain Raymond Clark and Linda-Lee. This unusual trio will make sure you get all set up with the fishing rod and bait that you need to complete your first fishing quest: “Casting Off.”

You can also pick up this quest on a sign outside Vault 76.

Daily Fishing Quest
Once you have the fishing rod, you can begin picking up a daily fishing quest. Speak with Captain Clark to get the quest, a special request for a quantity of fish from a particular region. This is a great way to make sure you’re flush with bait. This is also how you will find recipes for meals or C.A.M.P. item plans, and modifications for your fishing rod.

How to Reel ‘em In

Now that you have a fishing rod, all you need to do is stand facing a body of water and you will get a prompt to fish. Remember, you can fish in any body of water that you can swim in. Another thing to keep in mind is that your fishing rod is not an item that you can equip and will not show up in your pip-boy, so you won’t need to worry about switching out your weapon.

Fishing Minigame
Then, your character will equip the fishing rod, and you can select your bait.

After the casting off animation, the float will bob on the water and when a fish is hooked it will disappear beneath the surface. This is your chance! Press the shown button at the right time (when the bobber is completely submerged) and you will trigger the fishing mini game.

The minigame is a true test of your skill as a fisherman! Keep the yellow triangular indicator over the fish icon and the fish will be drawn towards the center of the circle. If the fish leaves the triangle, it will get further away from the center, and you might lose it. If the fish does escape, you can always try again with another fish.

If you can get the fish into the center of the circle, you’ve caught yourself a fish!

Catching the Perfect Fish

Age Required

These are the three most important things you should consider while you are fishing: bait, region, and weather. All three contribute to the type of fish you will be able to catch.

Bait
There are three types of bait: Common, Improved and Superb. The better the bait, the better the chance of attracting increasingly rare and larger fish.

Purchase Common Bait in Fisherman’s rest from The Fisherman or by completing the daily fishing quest. This kind of bait will only catch Common fish.

Improved Bait can be found in containers around Appalachia or earned as a reward from completing Public Events and daily fishing quests. Improved Bait will give you a better chance to catch rare regional fish.

The really good stuff is Superb Bait, which can be earned as a Seasons reward. Superb Bait will help you attract rare fish like Local Legends, Axolotls and Glowing fish. More on those critters later!

But, if it's rare or large fish you are after, then fishing rod upgrades are a must. Completing fishing themed challenges will net you reel upgrades that will go a long way in landing those more challenging catches.

Once you complete the challenges, simply go to the nearest Tinker's Workbench and modify your fishing rod - especially before heading out to use your superb bait!

Region
Depending on the region you’re in, the local wildlife will be different and naturally that means fish too, so certain types of fish will only be found in specific regions of Appalachia.

Weather
Every fishing location is affected by the weather. Usually, you’ll experience Clear or Rainy weather, but sometimes you’ll be fishing in an area affected by radstorms and nukes. While Clear weather is best for catching common fish found throughout Appalachia and Rainy weather is good for catching region-specific fish, the two more dangerous weather types increase the chance that you’ll be able to catch Glowing fish.

If, for example, you want a chance to get a rare region-specific fish, you’ll want good bait and rain. Take your superb bait into a radstorm and you could net yourself one heck of a catch.

Plenty o’ Fishes

Appalachia is filled to the gills with all sorts of fish just waiting to be reeled in! Common fish can be found anywhere in Appalachia, but regional fish are rare and harder to hook. Some fish are even Local Legends.

Local Legends are elusive fish that have made a reputation for themselves. They are very difficult to catch and only appear in very specific bodies of water. Local Legends can be hooked with any bait, but your best chance to snag one will be with Superb Bait.

Caught with Improved or Superb Bait, Axolotls are a type of amphibian that you can find in Appalachia. There are 12 Axolotls in total, and they are each specific to two regions in Appalachia. Every month features a different Axolotl to find, so keep an eye out and find them all.

Remember to check our social media for clues to which Axolotl is available each month!

You might be able to find one of these super cute salamanders somewhere damp and muddy in June/this June!

Eat What You Catch

Age Required

In Fallout 76, you can eat fish from your Pip-Boy inventory, or you can cook them down into Fish Bits. Fish Bits are a crucial ingredient in any fishy dish. You will learn the Fish Bits recipe after you have caught your first fish. Fish Bits can be used at any Cooking Station to make meals from recipes that you can earn from daily fishing quests.

Or you can feed the insatiable Linda-Lee until she gifts you a random Legendary item. She’s the giant hermit crab at Fisherman’s Rest named for the boat she inhabits and stole from Captain Raymond Clark. You can’t miss her.

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