How to Get a Fishing Rod and Bait in Genshin Impact: Where to Find Rare Fish

Fishing was added to Genshin Impact back in Version 2.1, but the system has expanded a lot since then. We can still get our first rod for free, craft bait, catch ornamental fish for the Serenitea Pot, and exchange specific catches for useful rewards. The difference is that fishing now covers Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, Natlan, Nod-Krai, and Snezhnaya.If you do not know how to unlock fishing, which bait to use, how long fish take to respawn, or where to look for rare species, this guide has everything you need.

How to Complete Exploding Population and Get a Fishing Rod in Genshin Impact

To unlock fishing, we first need access to the Serenitea Pot. In the current game, the housing system becomes available after reaching Adventure Rank 28 and completing Archon Quest Chapter I: Act III, A New Star Approaches, followed by the World Quest A Teapot to Call Home: Part I.Once the Serenitea Pot system is unlocked, go to Katheryne in Mondstadt and start the World Quest Exploding Population.

How to complete Exploding Population and get a fishing rod in Genshin Impact

Katheryne sends us to Nantuck, the representative of the Mondstadt Fishing Association. Talk to him outside Mondstadt, then meet him at Cider Lake near Springvale.During the quest, Nantuck gives us:Catch a fish at Cider Lake, talk to Nantuck again, then catch an Ornamental Fish when the quest asks us to. Return to Nantuck to finish Exploding Population and permanently unlock the fishing system.

How to complete Exploding Population and get a fishing rod in Genshin Impact

Fishing Points are easy to recognize by the large ripples on the water. Approach one from the shore and interact with it to choose a rod and bait.

How to Fish in Genshin Impact

Fish are sensitive to movement and attacks. If we swim into the Fishing Point, use combat abilities nearby, or drop the bait directly on top of a fish, it can panic and swim away for a short time.That does not mean the fish is gone forever. Leave the immediate area or wait a little and it will calm down.The important thing the old version of this guide got wrong is the actual respawn timer:

Fishing Points respawn after 72 real-world hours, not 24 hours.

Changing the in-game clock does not make caught fish respawn faster. However, every Fishing Point has separate day and night populations:This means we should always check the same Fishing Point twice before leaving. Catch the daytime fish, change the in-game clock to night, and see whether another set appears.

What you need to know about fishing in Genshin Impact

Different species require different bait. Before casting, the game shows the rod and bait selection screen. If a fish ignores our bait completely, we are probably using the wrong type.Fishing itself is a small timing minigame. Cast the line close enough to attract the target without landing directly on it.

Choosing bait in Genshin Impact

When the fish bites, hook it and keep the tension indicator inside the highlighted Ideal Tension Zone. The fish pulls against us and the zone moves, so we have to press and release the fishing button to keep the indicator inside it.

Fishing minigame in Genshin Impact

If the catch progress fills completely, we get the fish. If it drops too far and stays there, the fish escapes.The difficulty depends on the species. Rare fish generally have a smaller or more aggressive tension zone than basic Medaka.

How to Make Fishing Bait in Genshin Impact

Bait is crafted at a Crafting Bench. One recipe always produces 10 pieces of bait.The Fruit Paste Bait formula is given to us for free during Exploding Population. Most permanent bait formulas cost 3 Medaka at the appropriate regional Fishing Association.The original guide only had the four bait types from Version 2.1. As of Version 7.0, there are many more.

Fruit Paste Bait

This is the basic bait we receive during Exploding Population. It is mainly used for Medaka-type fish, Dawncatcher, and Crystalfish.Recipe:

• Sunsettia x1.
• Wheat x1.

Redrot Bait

Used for Stickleback-type fish, including Snowstrider.The formula is sold by Nantuck at the Mondstadt Fishing Association for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Dendrobium x1.
• Fowl x1.

False Worm Bait

Used for Shirakodai and Angelfish, including the rare Abiding Angelfish and Raimei Angelfish.The formula is sold by Nantuck for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Slime Condensate x1.
• Berry x1.

Fake Fly Bait

Used for Golden Koi, Rusty Koi, Pufferfish, Bitter Pufferfish, and the Enkanomiya Rays.The formula is sold by Nantuck for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Sakura Bloom x1.
• Horsetail x1.

Sugardew Bait

This Sumeru bait is used for Anglers and Axe Marlins, including Peach of the Deep Waves.The formula is sold by Loumelat at the Sumeru Fishing Association for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Harra Fruit x1.
• Sumeru Rose x1.

Sour Bait

This Fontaine bait is used for Heartfeather Bass.The formula is sold by Delaroche at the Fontaine Fishing Association for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Bulle Fruit x1.
• Wheat x1.

Flashing Maintenance Mek Bait

Used exclusively for Fontaine's fish-like Maintenance Meks, including the rare Maintenance Mek: Platinum Collection.The formula is sold by Delaroche for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Marcotte x1.
• Iron Chunk x1.

Spinelgrain Bait

One of the two main Natlan bait types. It attracts Rapidfighting Fish, Sunfish, and Pseudoshark Unihornfish.The formula is sold by Oroluk at the Natlan Fishing Association for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Spinel Fruit x1.
• Grainfruit x1.

Emberglow Bait

Another Natlan bait. It is used for Magma Rapidfighting Fish, Phony Phlogiston Unihornfish, and Secret Source Scout Sweeper.Recipe:

• Embercore Flower x1.
• Wheat x1.

Berry Bait

Added with Nod-Krai. It is used for Axehead Fish.The formula is sold by the Nod-Krai Fishing Association for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Midsommar Berry x1.
• Flour x1.

Refreshing Lakka Bait

Also sold in Nod-Krai. It is used for Crystal-Eye fish and Mauler Sharks, including the Neon Mauler Shark.Recipe:

• Lakkaberry x1.
• Mint x1.

Glimmering Bait

This bait was added with Snezhnaya in Version 7.0. It attracts Snowfin and Starbloom Fish.The formula is sold by Zherebtsov at the Snezhnaya Fishing Association for 3 Medaka.Recipe:

• Snowball Flower x1.
• Iron Chunk x1.

Glowgrass Bait also exists in the game files and fishing system, but it was tied to the old Lunar Realm event and is not a normal permanent bait formula we can buy today.

Where to Fish in Genshin Impact

The fastest way to find a specific Fishing Point is still an interactive map. Open our Genshin Impact interactive map and enable the fishing markers.The old version of this article only covered Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma. Fishing now also exists in Sumeru, Fontaine, Natlan, Nod-Krai, and Snezhnaya, so relying only on the old screenshots below will miss a large part of the current system.Also remember that fish do not all appear at the same time of day. If a required species is missing, check whether it is a daytime or nighttime fish before assuming the spot has not spawned it.

Medaka

Medaka is one of the most common fish in the game and one of the most useful early catches because Fishing Associations use it as currency for bait formulas.

Medaka

It appears across several regions and uses Fruit Paste Bait.

Medaka

Glaze Medaka

Glaze Medaka is a regional Medaka variant found in Inazuma. Use Fruit Paste Bait.

Glaze Medaka

Sweet-Flower Medaka

Sweet-Flower Medaka is mainly found in Liyue waters. It also uses Fruit Paste Bait.

Sweet-Flower Medaka

Aizen Medaka

Aizen Medaka is associated with Mondstadt and can be found at several Fishing Points around the region. Use Fruit Paste Bait.

Aizen Medaka

Dawncatcher

Dawncatcher is rarer than normal Medaka but appears across multiple regions. It uses Fruit Paste Bait and is one of the more difficult fish in that bait group.

Dawncatcher locations

Dawncatcher locations

Crystalfish

Crystalfish is another harder Fruit Paste Bait catch. It appears at several Fishing Points rather than one unique location.

Crystalfish locations

Crystalfish locations

Lunged Stickleback

Lunged Stickleback is an Inazuma Stickleback species. Use Redrot Bait.

Lunged Stickleback

Betta

Betta is a Liyue Stickleback species and also uses Redrot Bait.

Betta

You can track the remaining species using our Genshin Impact interactive map.

Where to Find Rare Fish in Genshin Impact

The old version of this guide named only Snowstrider and Abiding Angelfish as rare fish. They are still rare, but they are no longer the only location-exclusive catches in the game.Here are the most useful unique fishing spots to remember:

Rare fish in Genshin Impact

Newer regions also have valuable species of their own. Natlan introduced fish such as Pseudoshark Unihornfish and Secret Source Scout Sweeper. Nod-Krai added Neon Mauler Shark, while Version 7.0 added six Snezhnayan fish, including Moonlight Snowfin and Iridescent Starbloom Fish.They are not all restricted to one single Fishing Point, so I would not call every one of them location-exclusive in the same sense as Raimei Angelfish or Snowstrider. Still, they are among the species we will need if we want current regional Fishing Association rewards.

How Long Do Fish Take to Respawn?

After we catch fish from a Fishing Point, that point refills after 72 real-world hours.Waiting in the Paimon menu or changing the clock does not shorten this timer. Changing the in-game time only swaps between the day and night fish pools.If we need a large number of fish for a weapon or refinement material, there are two practical options:This is particularly useful when farming Raimei Angelfish for The Catch or the rarer Fontaine fish for Fleuve Cendre Ferryman.

Which Fishing Rod Should We Use?

The free Wilderness Rod works everywhere, so there is no need to buy another rod just to catch a specific fish.Regional Fishing Associations sell rods that make the tension mechanic easier in their own regions. Over the years, the game has added rods such as Windtangler, Wishmaker, Narukawa Ukai, Serendipity, Wavepiercer, Flowhorn Flounderfinder, Moongleam Sapling, and the Snezhnayan Scepter of the Snow Angler King.They are convenience upgrades, not mandatory equipment.The Fishing Line Stabilizer is also worth buying. As we catch more examples of the same species, it gradually makes that fish easier to reel in.

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That is everything you need to know about unlocking fishing, getting the Wilderness Rod, crafting bait, finding Fishing Points, and catching rare fish in Genshin Impact. The biggest things to remember are simple: fish respawn every 72 hours, day and night have separate pools, and every species only bites the bait assigned to it.