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.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Lone Star Lake, Texas | Float, spin and bottom methods basics | Spin fishing | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Mudwater River, Missouri | Balanced tackle requirements mastery | Spin fishing | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Emerald Lake, New York | Drag control during the fight + gear | Float fishing or Spin fishing | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Falcon Lake, Oregon | Build optimization | Float fishing | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Everglades, Florida | Min-max | Float fishing or Trolling | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (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.
Level/Difficulty: Starting waterway, level 1 Key Rewards: Fast early experience, cheap credits, first-catch bonuses
What to Do in Lone Star Lake, Texas
- 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. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Spin fishing as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- 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.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Baitcasting rod with a low profile reel or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Float, spin and bottom methods fundamentals
- Spin fishing selected and functional
- Lone Star Lake, Texas main content cleared
- Ready for Mudwater River, Missouri
Phase 2: Early Game (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.
Level/Difficulty: Unlocks around level 4 Key Rewards: Channel Catfish trophies, night session missions, bottom fishing experience
What to Do in Mudwater River, Missouri
- Work on Balanced tackle requirements. Rod test range, reel drag rating, line strength and hook size all have to sit inside each other's limits. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Baitcasting rod with a low profile reel if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- 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.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Emerald Lake, New York.
- Consider whether Float fishing might suit your playstyle better than Spin fishing.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Balanced tackle requirements integrated into gameplay
- Baitcasting rod with a low profile reel acquired
- Mudwater River, Missouri fully cleared
- Ready for Emerald Lake, New York
Phase 3: Mid Game (Emerald Lake, New York)
Widely treated as the first serious credit farm because of its Walleye density. Grass Pickerel, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch and Golden Shiner round out the list.
Level/Difficulty: Unlocks around level 8 Key Rewards: Walleye credit income, Northern Pike trophies, jig fishing practice
What to Do in Emerald Lake, New York
- Master Drag control during the fight. The drag slider is adjusted live while a fish runs. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Light spinning rod with a 1000 size reel. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- 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.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Time of day and weather cycles for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Drag control during the fight mastered
- Light spinning rod with a 1000 size reel acquired or in progress
- Emerald Lake, New York fully cleared
- Ready for Falcon Lake, Oregon
Phase 4: Late Game (Falcon Lake, Oregon)
Cold, clear and rocky, with occasional large boulders that hold fish. Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout and Oregon Redband Trout dominate, with Smallmouth Bass and Pumpkinseed as extras.
Level/Difficulty: Unlocks around level 14 Key Rewards: Trout species collection, light-line technique, scenic trophy hunting
What to Do in Falcon Lake, Oregon
- Finalize your build. You should be running Float fishing or Spin fishing with optimized gear.
- Light spinning rod with a 1000 size reel should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- 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.
- Credits, BaitCoins and travel costs optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Everglades, Florida.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Light spinning rod with a 1000 size reel upgraded to max
- Falcon Lake, Oregon fully cleared
- Ready for Everglades, Florida
Phase 5: Endgame (Everglades, Florida)
Warm shallow canals full of aggressive fish. Peacock Bass and Largemouth Bass hit moving lures hard, while Bowfin and Florida Gar chew through soft plastics.
Level/Difficulty: Unlocks around level 18 Key Rewards: Peacock Bass, high credit per fish, lure fishing mastery
What to Do in Everglades, Florida
- Everglades, Florida tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- 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.
- The endgame loop: run Everglades, Florida, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Trolling for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Credits, BaitCoins and travel costs mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Everglades, Florida fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Putting a heavy hook and thick line on a panfish rig, then wondering why the Bluegill inspect the bait and swim away.
- Cranking the drag fully tight so nothing can take line, which turns every decent fish into a snapped leader.
- Travelling to an expensive waterway with no credit buffer, leaving no money for bait, tackle or the trip back.
- Fishing one spot for an hour because it worked once, instead of moving when the marked fish leave the area.
- Buying premium tackle with BaitCoins before understanding the balance rules, and pairing an excellent reel with a line that breaks first anyway.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- 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.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More Fishing Planet Guides
- Fishing Planet Fishing Planet Overview
- Fishing Planet Best Builds
- Fishing Planet Tier List
- Fishing Planet Beginner's Guide
- 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
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