Why Fishing Matters in Ashenfall

Fishing arrived in RuneScape: Dragonwilds with the 0.11.1 update on 21 April 2026, becoming the game's eleventh skill and one of the most relaxing ways to stock a camp with food. Unlike some skills, you don't need to hit a level threshold or finish a big quest chain before you can start — you just need two pieces of Coarse Thread. Because fish feed directly into cooking and crafting, and because rare "pristine" catches can be turned into trophies, fishing quickly becomes a skill players return to throughout their time in Ashenfall.

Getting Started: The Shrimp Catcher Quest

To unlock fishing, craft a Coarse Net at a crafting table using 2x Coarse Thread. Then head to Bramblemead Valley and talk to the Wise Old Man, who lives in a derelict building there. He hands out the Shrimp Catcher quest, which asks you to catch a sardine and bring it back. Since you won't have the skill level for a rod yet, you'll need to start with net fishing to work your way up.

Net fishing spots appear as small, bubbling white ripples close to shore, while rod fishing spots are larger rings farther from the bank where you can actually see fish moving underwater. A commonly recommended pond sits between Temple Woods and Bramblemead Valley, and it has both spot types nearby, making it a convenient place to start.

Net Fishing vs. Rod Fishing

Net fishing is the simplest way to build up early fishing levels. Stand near a net fishing spot with any net equipped, then repeatedly use the Trawl action (default Left Mouse Button) to catch fish or junk like stones and weeds. Each trawl costs 10 stamina, and trawling only works inside the range of a fishing spot that hasn't been depleted yet. Nets work in any region regardless of the surrounding terrain, which is why players use them at spots like Dowdun Reach to farm krill without worrying about their fishing level.

Rod fishing takes more finesse. You must stand a certain distance back from the spot, then hold the cast button to charge your throw — too weak or too strong a cast wastes the attempt without spending stamina or bait. Once a fish bites, it pulls the line left or right, and you counter with the A or D key in the opposite direction while holding the reel button.

This tires the fish out, but many players get tripped up early on because they try to reel in as soon as the tension bar looks favorable. In fact, the game needs to explicitly signal that the fish is ready to be pulled in before reeling does anything. Equipping bait lowers the odds of reeling in junk instead of a real catch.

Rods, Nets, Bait, and Fish

Progression runs from basic nets and rods up through much stronger versions as your level climbs. The table below shows the gear progression from earliest to most advanced.

| Slot | Early Game | → | Late Game | |------|-----------|---|-----------| | Net | Coarse Net | Wool Net → Fine Net → Mystic Net | Desert Net | | Rod | Ash Rod | Oak Rod → Willow Rod → Maple Rod | Yew Rod |

Ash Rods can be crafted once you reach fishing level 3, using 1x Ash Log and 1x Coarse Thread. Bait is optional on a rod but significantly reduces the chance of hooking junk, and different bait types unlock access to different fish. Here's a sample of catches and the bait they require, along with their power level, base XP, and weight:

| Fish | Power Level | XP | Weight | Bait Required | |------|------------|-----|--------|---------------| | Raw shrimp | 2 | 8 | 0.2 | None | | Raw sardine | 2 | 20 | 1.5 | Shrimp Bait | | Raw trout | 2 | 25 | 2.1 | Feather Bait | | Raw herring | 3 | 30 | 1.8 | Anchovy Bait | | Raw salmon | 3 | 35 | 1.8 | Feathered Lure | | Raw lobster | 4 | 16 | 2.4 | None | | Raw undead eel | 4 | 45 | 3.4 | Lobster Bait | | Raw monkfish | 7 | 35 | 2.5 | None | | Raw desert sole | 7 | 65 | 2.5 | Monkfish Bait |

Rarer "pristine" versions of most fish exist too, and they're used for decoration or as premium food. Catching them requires hitting a specific fishing level first.

Leveling Rewards, Spells, and Gear

As you gain fishing experience, you unlock passive bonuses and Skill Spells that make later grinding noticeably faster. Skill Spells require Water, Astral, Air, Nature, Earth, and Law runes to cast, and three of them are tied directly to the Fishing skill:

  • Fishing Frenzy – enchants a fishing node so each catch yields an extra fish of the same type for a limited time.
  • Fishnado – conjures a small tornado that pulls up to five fish out of a node at once.
  • Infernal Rod – lets you cook a catch instantly by infusing your rod with fire, skipping the trip back to camp.

Here are the level milestones confirmed for the Fishing skill:

| Level | Reward | |-------|--------| | 3 | Ash Rod crafting recipe; stamina drain rate reduced by 1% | | 10 | Fishing Frenzy Skill Spell unlocked | | 17 | Pristine Fish become catchable | | 23 | All fish carry weight reduced by 25% | | 30 | Infernal Rod Skill Spell unlocked | | 70 | Angler's Hat crafting recipe unlocked |

The Angler's Hat, available at level 70, gives a 10% chance to avoid depleting a fishing node entirely when you land a catch, which is a meaningful quality-of-life boost for long grinding sessions. Beyond rods and nets, a handful of items and consumables noticeably speed up progress: the Skills Necklace applies a small multiplier to fish collection, the Inspiring Ring of Fishing adds a flat experience boost, and wearing a single piece of mage armor cuts your stamina regeneration delay in half.

| Category | Item | Effect | |----------|------|--------| | Trinket | Inspiring Ring of Fishing | +5% Fishing experience | | Trinket | Skills Necklace | 1% multiplier on fish collected | | Armor | Angler's Hat | 10% chance to not deplete a fishing node | | Armor | Mage Robes (any single piece) | -50% Stamina Regen Delay | | Consumable | Focused Fishing Potion | +15% Fishing XP | | Consumable | Focused Fishing Potion II | +30% Fishing XP |

Food and potion perks don't stack with items of their own type — eating a new food overrides the last food buff, and drinking a new potion overrides the last potion buff — but one food perk and one potion perk can run simultaneously. For storage, a player-built Fishing Barrel holds thousands of raw fish, and the Personal Chest spell offers weightless storage for up to 1,980 fish, both of which help avoid overloading your carry weight during long sessions.

A few practical pointers worth keeping in mind while training:

  • Start at net fishing spots with a Coarse Net to reach level 3 quickly and unlock the Ash Rod.
  • Craft Shrimp Bait early since shrimp and sardines are the easiest catches to farm for initial levels.
  • Watch for the game's explicit signal that a fish is ready to be reeled in — pulling too early wastes the attempt even if the tension bar looks right.
  • Upgrade rods and nets as soon as new recipes unlock, since later gear reduces stamina costs and opens up higher-value fish.

FAQ

How do I start runescape dragonwilds fishing for the first time? Craft a Coarse Net from 2x Coarse Thread, then speak to the Wise Old Man in Bramblemead Valley to receive the Shrimp Catcher quest, which introduces the skill.

Why does my stamina drain so fast while rod fishing? Reeling in a fish costs stamina throughout the struggle, and better rods along with the level 3 stamina-drain reduction and certain mage armor pieces help offset the drain.

Do I need bait to fish with a rod? No, but fishing without bait greatly increases the chance of reeling in junk instead of an actual fish, so most players equip bait matched to the fish they're targeting.

What are pristine fish? Pristine versions of most fish become catchable once you reach fishing level 17, and they can be used for decoration or as higher-value food.

Are there spells that help with fishing? Yes — Fishing Frenzy, Fishnado, and Infernal Rod are Skill Spells earned through leveling that boost catch rates or let you cook fish instantly.