Master the Art of Fishing in Tales of the Shire: Ultimate Guide to Catching Every Fish
Fishing in Tales of the Shire is not just a chill pastime—it’s essential if you want to cook all the meals and keep your Hobbit neighbors happy. To catch different fish, you’ll need to know where and when to fish, considering spots, weather, seasons, and time of day.
- How to get your fishing rod and start fishing
- Tips for catching fish and managing the fishing line
- Understanding fish species based on season, weather, location, and time
- Fishing spots and unlocking new locations
- Upgrading your fishing rod and leveling up
Getting Started: Your Fishing Rod and First Spot
You can’t go fishing without a rod! Complete the “Finding Your Feet” quest until you meet Old Noakes, usually found at his house called Old Noakes’ Smial, just across the stone bridge east of the village square. He’ll hand you the fishing rod, so you’re ready to cast your line.
Old Noakes doesn’t like you fishing in his pond, but no worries—Old Ruby’s Pond, located just north of your Hobbit-hole, is a great starting point. Look for dark shadows moving under the water surface—that’s where the fish hang out.
Equip your fishing rod from the tool wheel (press “T” on PC or Up on the D-pad on consoles), then hold the cast button (“E” or RT) to throw your line close to the fish. When you get a bite, quickly press the reel button (Space, A on Xbox, or X on PlayStation) to start reeling in.
Mastering the Catch: Fighting the Fish
Fish won’t give up easily. As they struggle, use your movement controls to pull them in the opposite direction they swim. For example, if a fish darts north, reel south to tire it out.
Watch the white circle on your screen—it changes color as you apply pressure. If it turns red for too long, the line snaps, and the fish escapes. Relax the tension by releasing movement buttons whenever the circle is red, then try again.
Know Your Fish: Seasons, Weather, Location, and Time
The Shire has many fish species, each with its own preferences. Open the encyclopedia’s Fish tab to track which ones you’ve caught and which are still waiting.
- Season: Fish appear in specific seasons—spring, summer, autumn, or winter. Seasons last 14 days, so some fish might only show up rarely.
- Weather: Preferred conditions include dry, rainy, or snowy days. Dry weather is most common, but some fish prefer rain or snow (which only happens in winter).
- Location: Fish tend to stick to certain spots like Old Ruby’s Pond or the Old Stone Bridge Pool.
- Time of day: Fish are active at dawn, morning, afternoon, evening, or night. Check the time tracker at the screen’s lower-left corner.
Not all conditions need to be perfect to catch a fish—a rainy-preferring fish might still bite on a dry day, just less often.
If you haven’t caught a species yet, you’ll only see season and weather info. Once caught, location and time details unlock, helping you plan your next fishing trip better.
Upgrade and Level Up Your Fishing
Some fish require better rods to catch, and the quality of your rod also affects the “deliciousness” of your catch. Unlock the Fishing Club during the Bywater Village Campaign Tale (main quest) to upgrade your rod and increase your fishing level.
Every fish you catch adds experience, and completing fishing missions from the Village Square notice board gives bonus XP.
Where to Fish: Key Spots in The Shire
After visiting a fishing spot, it will be marked on your map. Here are some you can find right from the start:
- Old Ruby’s Pond – just north of your Hobbit-hole
- Old Stone Bridge Pool – south side of the Old Stone Bridge, east of the Village Square
- Tree Root Pool – hidden in the forest, southeastern corner of the map
- Cotton Farm Pond – southeast of the Cotton Farm
Want more spots? Increase friendship with these Hobbits (and a Dwarf) to unlock their ponds:
- Nefi’s fishing pond: Friendship level 3
- Orlo Proudfoot’s fishing pond: Friendship level 6
- Old Noakes’ fishing pond: Friendship level 10 – only true fishermen allowed here
When a pond runs out of fish, just wait for the next part of the day. Ponds refill—if you emptied one in the morning, it’ll be stocked again by afternoon.
