Welcome to Elderfield Fishing Guide: Rods, Bait and Every Fish
How fishing works in Welcome to Elderfield: the three rods, the bait each water needs, where every fish spawns and what the crab pots and treasure rolls pay.
Fishing starts when Fisherman Herb hands you the Old Fishing Rod at the Lakefront. He gives it the first time you talk to him. From there the rule is simple: equip a rod, load the bait that matches the water you are standing at, and cast.
How the minigame works
A meter appears once you cast. Wait for a fish to bite the hook, then click repeatedly while the moving arrow sits over the blue bar. The progress bar fills as you hit the band. When it reaches the top you land the fish.
Bait is consumed on a successful catch unless you are wearing the Stealth Reel. That reel gives a 10% chance to keep the bait, which matters on the rarer spots.
The three rods
| Rod | Fishing level | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Old Fishing Rod | 1 | Gift from Fisherman Herb after your first talk with him at the Lakefront |
| Sturdy Fishing Rod | 2 | Forged in the Workshop |
| Quality Fishing Rod | 3 | Forged in the Workshop |
The rod gates the water, not the fish. The Campsite in the Old Woods needs the Sturdy rod, and the Catacombs need the Quality rod. Turn up with the wrong rod and you simply cannot fish there.
Reels, potions and the vest
Gear changes what you pull out rather than where you can cast.
| Item | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lucky Reel | +5% chance to find treasure while fishing | Completing Blue Painting 1 |
| Sturdy Reel | +5% chance to catch extra-large fish | Completing Blue Painting 2 |
| Premium Reel | +5% chance to catch higher-quality fish | Completing Blue Painting 3 |
| Stealth Reel | +10% chance the bait is not consumed | Completing Blue Painting 4 |
| Fish Finder | Fish bite 10% faster while it is in your inventory | Completing the Blue Room |
| Angler’s Vest | +5% chance to catch extra-large fish while equipped | Placeholder reward |
| Angler’s Potion | Adds +15% caught fish quality until midnight | Crafted at the Potion Lab |
The Potion Lab potion is the only timed one, so drink it before a long session rather than before a single cast.
Which bait each water wants
This is the part that trips people up. Every spot takes one bait type and nothing else.
| Water | Bait |
|---|---|
| Lakefront | Worm or Leech, both from a Bait Pack (Tier 1) |
| Sewers | Maggot, from the Maggot Man news event |
| Mall, Administrator’s Office | Bug, from a Bait Pack (Tier 1) |
| Campsite (The Old Woods) | Dragonfly from bug catching or a Bait Pack (Tier 2); Lugworm only during the Fishing Contest |
| Catacombs | Firefly, from bug catching in the Catacombs or a Bait Pack (Tier 2) |
If nothing bites, check the bait before you check the time of day. The wrong bait produces no fish at all, which looks identical to a bad spot.
Crab Pot
A Crab Pot is the passive option. Set it in an outdoor water source, add any bait, and collect the catch the next day. Bait type does not matter here.
Catches include Mud Snail, Spiked Clam, Midnight Crayfish, Lake Shrimp, Starfish, Lake Mollusk, Stoneshell Turtle, Hermit Crab and Stoneshell Crab. Prices run from 20g for a basic Lake Shrimp up to 200g for a four-quality Lake Mollusk.
Fish by location
Prices below are the four quality tiers, from the base catch to the best roll.
Lakefront
| Fish | Bait | Season | Time | Sell price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost Flounder | Worm | All | Any | 10 / 13 / 16 / 20g |
| Rock-Dweller | Worm, Leech | All | Any | 30 / 39 / 49 / 60g |
| Fog Eel | Leech | All | Any | 20 / 26 / 33 / 40g |
| Corpsefish | Worm, Leech | Winter | Any | 20 / 26 / 33 / 40g |
| Mud Perch | Worm, Leech | All | Any | 15 / 19 / 24 / 30g |
| Lake Screamer | Worm, Leech | Spring, Summer | 6am to 8pm | 20 / 26 / 33 / 40g |
| Midnight Crayfish | Worm, Leech | Spring, Winter | 8pm to 6am | 60 / 80 / 100 / 120g |
| Glowfish | Worm, Leech | Summer, Autumn | 8pm to 6am | 60 / 80 / 120g |
| Bottom-Feeder | Worm, Leech | Summer | Any | 40 / 53 / 80g |
Sewers and the Mall
| Fish | Water | Bait | Sell price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slimefish | Sewers F1 | None needed | 12 / 17 / 20 / 24g |
| Stalktopus | Mall F1 Hallway | Bug | 30 / 39 / 49 / 60g |
Campsite, The Old Woods
Needs the Sturdy Fishing Rod and Dragonfly or Lugworm bait.
| Fish | Season | Sell price |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Pike | All | 50 / 66 / 83 / 100g |
| Gold Fish | All | 70 / 93 / 116 / 140g |
| Aetherfin | All | 150 / 200 / 249 / 300g |
| Razorfish | All | 30 / 40 / 50 / 60g |
| Stonelurker | All | 40 / 53 / 66 / 80g |
| Manefish | Spring, Summer | 60 / 120g |
| Ashball | All | 100 / 133 / 200g |
| Gold Sturgeon | Spring, Summer | 140 / 186 / 280g |
| Koi Fish | Autumn, Winter | 70 / 140g |
| Void-Floater | Night | 140g and up |
Catacombs
Needs the Quality Fishing Rod and Firefly bait.
| Fish | Sell price |
|---|---|
| Cave Serpent | 60 / 80 / 100 / 120g |
| Bonefish | 50 / 66 / 100g |
| Shyfish | 100 / 133 / 166 / 200g |
| Ancient Angler | 80 / 106 / 133 / 160g |
Aetherfin is the standout earner at up to 300g, and it is available in every season at the Old Woods. Shyfish is the best of the Catacombs at up to 200g.
Treasure rolls
Some casts pull up treasure instead of a fish. Treasure quality follows its own roll.
| Treasure | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Godscale | 25g | Fishing treasure, lucky roll; also drops from the Weird Fish boss |
| Godflesh | 40g | Fishing treasure; also drops from the Weird Fish boss |
| Bones | 5g | Unlucky roll |
| Soda Pop | 2g | Low-value roll |
The Lucky Reel raises the chance of a treasure roll. If you are farming Godscale for crafting, equip it before you start.
Sources
- Welcome to Elderfield Wiki: Fishing (community wiki, checked against the 1.0.x build)
- Steam community threads on Fog Eel spawn rate, Fog Broth and early money (September 2026)
Community-maintained tables can lag a patch. The Fog Eel rate was raised in v1.0.1, so treat spawn-rate comments from before that date as out of date.
FAQ
Where do I get the first fishing rod?
Fisherman Herb gives it to you at the Lakefront the first time you talk to him. You do not need to buy it.
Why is nothing biting?
Almost always the bait. Each water body accepts one bait type, and the wrong bait produces no bites at all.
What is the most valuable fish?
Aetherfin, at the Old Woods Campsite, sells for up to 300g. It appears in every season, so it is a reliable long-term earner.
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