Fishing is one of many activities you can enjoy in Valheim. Ponds and oceans are teeming with fish just waiting to be caught. You can unlock the mechanic fairly early once you find a certain trader. That lets you level the skill quickly and improve your abilities. Depending on the biome, your gear changes, as do the fish you can catch. Each species has its own behavior, turning every catch into a real challenge. We’ll cover everything in detail: how to gear up and which fish exist in Valheim.
Valheim fishing gear: Buy a rod and get bait
To fish, you need a few basics. First is, of course, a fishing rod to make the catch. You can only get it after you enter the Black Forest and meet Haldor the trader. This small fellow sells all sorts of items, including a fishing rod for 350 gold. He also sells 20x bait for 10 gold, which you can use in the Meadows and Black Forest. You can’t craft either the rod or the basic bait yourself.
Haldor spawns only in the Black Forest and can be a bit tricky to find. In general, he can appear in up to ten locations per world and must be at least 1500 meters from spawn. Each of his spots also needs around 400 meters of space. We recommend sailing a boat along the coast and watching your map for a bag icon. This works in single-player, but it’s far more effective in multiplayer when several players sail different stretches of coast. If you don’t have a server yet, you can rent a Valheim server cheaply. Find Haldor and fish together with your friends.
Alternatively, you can find a fishing rod later in the game in some Frost Caves in the Mountains. However, these are very rare, so they won’t let you fish before the fourth biome. It’s better to keep an eye out for Haldor.
Craft Valheim bait from trophies
Besides the rod, you also need the right bait to attract fish. Bait changes with the biome and with the fish you’re targeting. Unlike normal bait, the other types must be crafted from monster trophies plus basic bait. For this you first need the Food Preparation Table.
These bait types are currently in the game:
- Mossy bait from a Troll trophy (Black Forest)
- Sticky bait from an Abomination trophy (Swamp)
- Cold bait from a Fenring trophy (Mountains)
- Fiery bait from a Fuling trophy (Plains)
- Heavy bait from a Serpent trophy (Ocean)
- Misty bait from a Lox trophy (Mistlands)
- Hot bait from a Warrior trophy (Ashlands)
- Frosty bait from a Drake trophy (Deep North)
Valheim fishing guide: How to catch fish successfully
With your gear ready, where do you fish? Find a body of water where you can see fish. Often that’s the Ocean, but sometimes lakes or ponds work, too. Only fish that are actually visible in the world can bite and be caught. You can also fish from a boat.
Cast your rod with bait by holding “Attack”. You’ll see how far you’re casting; the maximum is around 25 meters. Look closely to spot which fish are where and cast strategically. Wait for a fish to bite and for the prompt. Then reel in with “Block.” Reeling costs stamina, so be prepared or the fish will get away. Once it’s near the shore, press “Use” to pick it up and put it in your inventory.
Each catch levels your Fishing skill, like other abilities. You can reel faster (+2% per level) and use less stamina (-0.8% per level). As with all skills, you can train up to level 100.
Valheim fish and fishing spots: Locations and processing
Every fish can be turned into raw fish, which you then use for recipes like cooked fish, fish bread, or fish wraps. Depending on the size and type of fish, you’ll get more raw fish. For example, a level 3 herring yields 8 raw fish. Fish dishes are primarily great for your stamina regeneration.
Some fish have other uses as well, especially for mead. In addition, when you reel them in, fish can drop extra items, with chances depending on rarity from 16% down to just 3%. These drops are often biome-tied, including ores or seeds. Fish also make great decorations for your walls. Don’t be surprised if they talk.
Perch
- Biome: Meadows and Black Forest
- Bait: Standard bait
- Use: Mead base: Vananidir (50% less stamina drain while swimming)
Pike
- Biome: Meadows and Black Forest (deep water)
- Bait: Standard bait
Trollfish
- Biome: Black Forest
- Bait: Mossy bait
- Use: Mead base: Troll stamina (+250 carry weight for 5 minutes)
Giant herring
- Biome: Swamp
- Bait: Sticky bait
Tetra
- Biome: Mountain lakes inside Frost Caves in the Mountains
- Bait: Cold bait
Grouper
- Biome: Plains
- Bait: Fiery bait
- Use: Mead base: resistance to Deathsquito stings
Tuna
- Biome: Ocean
- Bait: Heavy bait
Coral cod
- Biome: Ocean
- Bait: Heavy bait
Pufferfish
- Biome: Ocean and Mistlands (deep water)
- Bait: Misty bait
Anglerfish
- Biome: Mistlands
- Bait: Misty bait
- Use: Fish bread
Magmafish
- Biome: Ashlands
- Bait: Hot bait
Northern salmon
- Biome: Deep North
- Bait: Frosty bait
Valheim Fisherman’s Hat: Combine all fish for the bonus
If you’re an excellent angler and have caught all 12 fish, you can craft the Fisherman’s Hat from them. It boosts your Fishing and Swimming skills by +20 levels. You can even upgrade it three more times by catching more fish, increasing its durability and armor up to 1600 durability and 20 armor. You’ll need to keep fishing, though, as the costs rise each tier.
Conclusion: Fishing in Valheim for ingredients and skill
Fishing in Valheim isn’t just a relaxing pastime; it’s also a great source of tasty ingredients. Many fish dishes are perfect for restoring your stamina. We recommend starting as early as possible and getting a fishing rod from Haldor in the Black Forest. After that, the difficulty ramps up per biome, with new baits and fish. Once you’ve landed them all, you can craft the fitting Fisherman’s Hat as a master angler. That pushes your skill even further.
