Fishing

Fishing is a recreation that is commonly seen in the Pokémon world.

In the games

Fishing is one way to catch Pokémon in the water. In fact, some Pokémon can only be caught by using a fishing rod. There are three fishing rods that are given out throughout the course of each game, and each one is given out by a Fishing Brother.

Equipment

Old Rod

An Old Rod is used to catch weak Template:Type2 Pokémon, which usually means only low-level Magikarp. In the Generation I games and their Generation III remakes, it is given out by a Fishing Guru who can be found in a house next to the Pokémon Center in Vermilion City. In the Generation II and their Generation IV remakes, he can be found in the Pokémon Center on Route 32. In the Generation III games, he is near the Gym in Dewford Town. In the Generation IV games, players can obtain an Old Rod from a fisherman in the gatehouse that connects Jubilife City to Route 218.

In the Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes, the Pokémon caught are always at level 10.

Good Rod

A Good Rod is used to catch Template:Type2 Pokémon. It is an upgrade of the Old Rod. In the Generation I games and their Generation III remakes, it is given out by a Fishing Guru in a house in Fuchsia City. In the Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes, he can be found in Olivine City. In the Generation III games, he is on Route 118. In the Generation IV games, there is a fisherman on Route 209 with the Good Rod.

In the Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes, the Pokémon caught are always at level 20.

Super Rod

A Super Rod is an item used to catch strong Template:Type2 Pokémon. It is an upgrade of both the Old Rod and Good Rod, and can be used to catch high-level Pokémon like Poliwhirl and Gyarados. In the Generation I games and their Generation III remakes, as well as in the Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes, the Super Rod's Guru can be found in a house on Silence Bridge. In the Generation III games, he is in a house by the Mossdeep Space Center. In the Generation IV games, the Super Rod is only obtainable after player obtains the National Pokédex, from a fisherman in the Fight Area.

In the Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes, the Pokémon caught are always at level 40.

Catching Pokémon

In Generation I and II, fishing is simply a matter of standing next to water and using the rod. Sometimes it will hook a Pokémon, and start a battle. Other times, it will catch nothing. There is a random chance of either happening, so if the rod catches nothing, players can feel free to cast it out again.

Generation III

Starting with Generation III, fishing became more complicated, as the player would have to pay attention and confirm as soon as the rod hooked a Pokémon, or else it would get away. In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, this required a series of confirmations to reel in better Pokémon. Generation III also introduced the ability for Trainers to fish off the back of a surfing Pokémon, which may be required to catch Feebas.

Generation IV

In Generation IV, the player would use the rod, and an exclamation mark-like sign would pop up above the player, noting that they should push the A button to start the battle with the Pokémon they've encountered. As with Generation III, the Pokémon will go away if the player takes too long.

In the anime

Numerous episodes of the anime have featured the group fishing.

At the Safari Zone, a fishing rod is distributed with the Safari Balls.

Rather than using bait, lures with Pokémon designs are used. The fisherman in Whiscash and Ash believed that the secret to catching the Whiscash he was looking for was finding the right lure. Misty has a collection of lures, including a special lure based on herself that she believes is the best. She sent it to Ash as a gift in The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing. Ash used this lure in Buizel Your Way Out of This to try and catch a powerful Buizel.

Trivia

• In Generation I, it is possible to fish at the bottom of a statue in most gyms (except for Saffron Gym or Cinnabar Gym) or any room in the Elite Four. However, when using the Super Rod in any gym other than Cerulean Gym, the game will say "Looks like there's nothing here."
• Generations II and IV are the only generations in which it is impossible to get the Super Rod before beating the Elite Four.
• In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the "!" will occasionally appear above the partner Pokémon instead of the player character.
  • This might be the partner Pokémon's own way of expressing surprise at the player getting a tug on the line.

This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.