Fishing Planet LLC launched this free-to-play fishing simulator on 11 August 2015 and it now covers 27 waterways modelled on real fisheries from Texas to Missouri to Oregon. Every catch runs through a physics model where line strength, hook size, drag setting and rod action all decide whether a fish lands or snaps you off. Progression is levels and credits, with BaitCoins sold separately for players who want to skip the grind.
Starting Fishing Planet can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet. For the full progression path, see our walkthrough.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Fishing Planet is a simulation game built around Float, spin and bottom methods and Balanced tackle requirements. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Build
| Build | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Float fishing | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Spin fishing | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Bottom fishing | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Carp fishing | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Trolling | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
Our recommendation: Start with Spin fishing. It offers the most forgiving experience while teaching core mechanics.
Avoid Trolling as your first pick. It requires deep knowledge of game systems to use effectively. Once you're ready, check our classes guide for all options.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn Float, spin and bottom methods
The three core disciplines each need their own rod, reel and terminal tackle and each catches a different slice of the species list. Spin gear covers active predators such as Bass and Pike, bottom rigs take Catfish and Carp, float gear handles panfish and Trout close in.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how Float, spin and bottom methods works before worrying about anything else. Our combat guide breaks this down further.
Step 2: Head to Lone Star Lake, Texas
The starter water, free to reach with no level requirement, and shallow enough that beginners can see what their tackle is doing. Nearly a dozen species live here including Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, White Crappie, Spotted Bass and Smallmouth Buffalo.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later. See our maps guide for all locations.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for Baitcasting rod with a low profile reel: it's the most accessible early upgrade. Casting accuracy and cranking power for heavier lures. Punishes sloppy thumb control but throws crankbaits and poppers far further than spinning gear of the same rating.
Step 4: Understand Balanced tackle requirements
Rod test range, reel drag rating, line strength and hook size all have to sit inside each other's limits. A 4 kg line on a rod rated to 12 kg means the line breaks first, and an oversized hook on a Bluegill rig simply never gets taken.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early. It pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to Mudwater River, Missouri
A muddy river system where the fish sit in deep holes rather than spread across open water. Channel Catfish are the headline draw, with Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, White Crappie and Bluegill filling the margins.
Essential Mechanics Explained
Float, spin and bottom methods
The three core disciplines each need their own rod, reel and terminal tackle and each catches a different slice of the species list. Spin gear covers active predators such as Bass and Pike, bottom rigs take Catfish and Carp, float gear handles panfish and Trout close in.
Balanced tackle requirements
Rod test range, reel drag rating, line strength and hook size all have to sit inside each other's limits. A 4 kg line on a rod rated to 12 kg means the line breaks first, and an oversized hook on a Bluegill rig simply never gets taken.
Drag control during the fight
The drag slider is adjusted live while a fish runs. Too tight and the line parts, too loose and the fish reaches cover and throws the hook, so the fight becomes a constant trade between recovering line and letting the fish tire.
Time of day and weather cycles
Waterways run a full day cycle with changing light, wind and pressure, and species feed on different schedules. Catfish at Mudwater River come alive after dark while Bass at Lone Star Lake feed hardest around dawn.
Credits, BaitCoins and travel costs
Credits come from selling catches and completing missions and buy most tackle. BaitCoins are the paid currency for premium gear and licences, and travelling between waterways costs credits, so a badly planned trip can leave you unable to get home.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Putting a heavy hook and thick line on a panfish rig, then wondering why the Bluegill inspect the bait and swim away
2. Cranking the drag fully tight so nothing can take line, which turns every decent fish into a snapped leader
3. Travelling to an expensive waterway with no credit buffer, leaving no money for bait, tackle or the trip back
4. Fishing one spot for an hour because it worked once, instead of moving when the marked fish leave the area
5. Buying premium tackle with BaitCoins before understanding the balance rules, and pairing an excellent reel with a line that breaks first anyway
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand Float, spin and bottom methods and Balanced tackle requirements
- Choose Spin fishing as starting build
- Clear Lone Star Lake, Texas main content
- Acquire Baitcasting rod with a low profile reel or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Mudwater River, Missouri
- Match every component of the rig to the weakest link on purpose. Set line test below rod test so a snag breaks the line rather than the rod, and keep the leader slightly weaker than the main line so you lose 30 cm instead of the whole spool.
- Open the drag before the first run, not during it. A hooked fish accelerates fastest in the opening two seconds, and most snapped lines in this game happen because the drag was still set for casting.
Tips for New Players
- Match every component of the rig to the weakest link on purpose. Set line test below rod test so a snag breaks the line rather than the rod, and keep the leader slightly weaker than the main line so you lose 30 cm instead of the whole spool.
- Open the drag before the first run, not during it. A hooked fish accelerates fastest in the opening two seconds, and most snapped lines in this game happen because the drag was still set for casting.
- Learn the retrieval techniques rather than holding one button. Stop and go, twitching and uniform retrieves each trigger different species, and Walleye in particular take almost exclusively on the pause.
- Fish the clock, not just the spot. Catfish feed after dark, Trout feed in low light, and Bass push shallow around dawn, so a session that fails at noon may fill the keepnet at the same spot four in-game hours later.
- Check the level requirement and travel cost of a waterway before you buy the ticket. Arriving somewhere with no credits left for tackle or the trip home is the most common early game dead end.
- Sell fish you do not need for the collection instead of hoarding them. The keepnet has a limit, and a full net stops you catching the trophy you actually came for.
- Buy a second, heavier setup as soon as you can afford it rather than upgrading one rod. Bottom fishing and spin fishing need genuinely different gear, and switching disciplines is how you keep earning when one pattern dies.
- Watch where the fish are marked in the water column. Casting a bottom rig into a spot where the species suspends two metres down wastes the whole session, and the depth indicator on your rig is adjustable for exactly this reason.
- Replace worn lures before they fail. Lures degrade with use and a broken lure at the moment a Peacock Bass commits costs more than the replacement would have.
- Complete the per-waterway missions as you go. They pay credits and experience for catches you were making anyway, and several unlock the higher tier tackle you need for the next water along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fishing Planet actually free?
Yes, the base game has been free to play since 11 August 2015. Credits earned in game buy most tackle, while BaitCoins are the optional paid currency for premium gear and faster access to higher tier equipment.
Which waterway should I start on?
Lone Star Lake in Texas. It is free to reach, has no level requirement and holds nearly a dozen easy species, so you can learn tackle balance without losing gear to fish that outmatch it.
Why does my line keep breaking?
Almost always drag setting or mismatched components. Line test must sit under rod test, and the drag needs loosening the moment a strong fish runs so the reel gives line instead of the knot failing.
What is the fastest way to earn credits?
Emerald Lake in New York, once you reach the unlock level. Its Walleye density makes it the standard early farm, and stacking waterway missions on top of routine catches roughly doubles the return per session.
Do I need different rods for each fishing type?
Yes. Float, spin and bottom fishing each require their own rod, reel and terminal tackle, and trying to bottom fish with a light spinning setup either fails to cast the weight or breaks on the take.
More Fishing Planet Guides
- Fishing Planet Fishing Planet Overview
- Fishing Planet Best Builds
- Fishing Planet Tier List
- Fishing Planet Walkthrough
- Fishing Planet Tips & Tricks
- Fishing Planet Weapons Guide
- Fishing Planet Combat Guide
- Fishing Planet Boss Guide
- Fishing Planet Maps & Locations
- Fishing Planet Crafting Guide
- Fishing Planet Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Fishing Planet, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Beginner's Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Beginner's Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Beginner's Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
