FishSoft LLC left early access with Russian Fishing 4 on November 10, 2021 and kept the game free to play. It models 18 reservoirs and more than 230 fish species, with line breaking strain, rod blank test and reel drag all fighting each other while a fish runs. Waterbodies are gated by character level rather than by skill, so Old Burg Lake opens at level 12 and Copper Lake at level 29.
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 | Mosquito Lake | Reel drag and line strain basics | Bottom and feeder angler | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Winding Rivulet | Level gated waterbodies mastery | Bottom and feeder angler | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Old Burg Lake | Separate skill percentages + gear | Float angler or Bottom and feeder angler | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Belaya River | Build optimization | Float angler | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Norwegian Sea | Min-max | Float angler or Bait and groundbait crafter | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Mosquito Lake)
The starting water, open from level 1 with no entry fee. Float fishing works through daylight at roughly 18 to 30 centimetres of depth, and bottom rigs take over overnight with the clip around 8 metres.
Level/Difficulty: Level 1, free entry Key Rewards: First silver, Harvesting Baits progress, early character levels
What to Do in Mosquito Lake
- Learn Reel drag and line strain. Line breaking strain, rod blank test and reel drag form a chain that fails at its weakest link. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Bottom and feeder angler as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- Set reel drag around 15 to 20 rather than locking it near maximum. A locked brake transfers the whole fight straight to the line or the blank, and both break instantly on the first hard run from a decent fish.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Match rod or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Reel drag and line strain fundamentals
- Bottom and feeder angler selected and functional
- Mosquito Lake main content cleared
- Ready for Winding Rivulet
Phase 2: Early Game (Winding Rivulet)
The second free water, also open from the start. Moving water rather than a lake, which changes bait presentation and makes it a common early bream and roach grind.
Level/Difficulty: Level 1, free entry Key Rewards: Early bream, groundbait skill progress, steady silver
What to Do in Winding Rivulet
- Work on Level gated waterbodies. Every waterbody carries a character level requirement and an entry fee. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Match rod if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Watch for the flame icon on the reel during a long fight. It means the friction brake has overheated, and in that state the brake wears at double rate, so easing off and letting the fish run is cheaper than replacing the reel.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Old Burg Lake.
- Consider whether Float angler might suit your playstyle better than Bottom and feeder angler.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Level gated waterbodies integrated into gameplay
- Match rod acquired
- Winding Rivulet fully cleared
- Ready for Old Burg Lake
Phase 3: Mid Game (Old Burg Lake)
The first real money water, opening at character level 12. Daytime bream fishing between roughly 8:00 and 20:00 is what most players use to fund their first serious tackle.
Level/Difficulty: Level 12, entry fee applies Key Rewards: Bream volume, cafe order fills, feeder rod skill
What to Do in Old Burg Lake
- Master Separate skill percentages. Character level and individual skill percentages advance on different tracks. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Telescopic float rod. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Use the clip to fix your cast distance. Once a shoal is found, every subsequent cast landing on the same spot is worth more than any tackle upgrade, and the clip is what makes that repeatable.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Cafe orders and silver for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Separate skill percentages mastered
- Telescopic float rod acquired or in progress
- Old Burg Lake fully cleared
- Ready for Belaya River
Phase 4: Late Game (Belaya River)
A spinning water where grayling and trout are the draw. Retrieve speed matters as much as lure choice, and the current forces you to keep moving rather than camping a swim.
Level/Difficulty: Mid level, entry fee applies Key Rewards: Grayling and trout, Making Lures progress, spinning rod skill
What to Do in Belaya River
- Finalize your build. You should be running Float angler or Bottom and feeder angler with optimized gear.
- Telescopic float rod should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Check the cafe order board before you choose a waterbody. Orders pay two to three times the fish market rate, and building a session around an active order changes silver per hour more than any other single decision.
- Energy, comfort and food optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Norwegian Sea.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Telescopic float rod upgraded to max
- Belaya River fully cleared
- Ready for Norwegian Sea
Phase 5: Endgame (Norwegian Sea)
The deep water endgame, fished from a boat with marine tackle. The highest level requirement in the game and the only place several of the biggest species appear.
Level/Difficulty: High level, boat and marine tackle required Key Rewards: Largest catches in the game, top tier silver per fish, marine skill
What to Do in Norwegian Sea
- Norwegian Sea tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Deliver the smallest fish that clears an order's minimum weight. Anything above the threshold pays exactly the same, so heavy fish handed to the cafe are silver thrown away.
- The endgame loop: run Norwegian Sea, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Bait and groundbait crafter for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Energy, comfort and food 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
- Norwegian Sea fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Tightening reel drag to maximum, then losing both the fish and the line on the first run
- Selling large fish to fill a cafe order when the minimum weight would have paid identically
- Casting freehand instead of setting the clip, so the feeding spot is never hit twice
- Buying bait rather than levelling Harvesting Baits and Making Groundbait
- Buying an expensive rod that is rated well above the line and reel you already own
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Set reel drag around 15 to 20 rather than locking it near maximum. A locked brake transfers the whole fight straight to the line or the blank, and both break instantly on the first hard run from a decent fish.
- Watch for the flame icon on the reel during a long fight. It means the friction brake has overheated, and in that state the brake wears at double rate, so easing off and letting the fish run is cheaper than replacing the reel.
- Use the clip to fix your cast distance. Once a shoal is found, every subsequent cast landing on the same spot is worth more than any tackle upgrade, and the clip is what makes that repeatable.
- Check the cafe order board before you choose a waterbody. Orders pay two to three times the fish market rate, and building a session around an active order changes silver per hour more than any other single decision.
- Deliver the smallest fish that clears an order's minimum weight. Anything above the threshold pays exactly the same, so heavy fish handed to the cafe are silver thrown away.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More Russian Fishing 4 Guides
- Russian Fishing 4 Russian Fishing 4 Overview
- Russian Fishing 4 Best Builds
- Russian Fishing 4 Tier List
- Russian Fishing 4 Beginner's Guide
- Russian Fishing 4 Tips & Tricks
- Russian Fishing 4 Weapons Guide
- Russian Fishing 4 Combat Guide
- Russian Fishing 4 Boss Guide
- Russian Fishing 4 Maps & Locations
- Russian Fishing 4 Crafting Guide
- Russian Fishing 4 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Russian Fishing 4, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Walkthrough: simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Walkthrough: simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Walkthrough: simulation game with similar mechanics
