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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telescopic float rod | S | Mosquito Lake and Winding Rivulet from level 1 while you build your first few thousand silver. | The cheapest usable rod in the game and the one every account starts on. |
| Match rod | A | Silver fish at distance where a telescopic simply cannot reach the feeding shoal. | A longer, finer float rod that casts further and handles lighter line than a telescopic. |
| Feeder rod | A | Bream farming at Old Burg Lake and any session where consistency beats mobility. | The bottom fishing workhorse, casting a mesh feeder full of groundbait so bait and attractant land together. |
| Spinning rod | B | Grayling and trout on the Belaya River, and predator fishing on any moving water. | Built for lures rather than bait, with the retrieve speed of the reel doing most of the work. |
| Marine rod | B | The Norwegian Sea, where the largest fish in the game live. | Heavy tackle for sea fishing from a boat, rated for drag pressures that would destroy freshwater gear. |
S-Tier: Telescopic float rod
The cheapest usable rod in the game and the one every account starts on. Short, forgiving, and best fished shallow in daylight with a small hook and soft bait.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Mosquito Lake and Winding Rivulet from level 1 while you build your first few thousand silver. |
| Key Mechanic | Reel drag and line strain |
| Recommended Build | Float angler |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Telescopic float rod: Pairs naturally with Float angler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Match rod
A longer, finer float rod that casts further and handles lighter line than a telescopic. It pays off once you can afford line that matches its blank test.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Silver fish at distance where a telescopic simply cannot reach the feeding shoal. |
| Key Mechanic | Level gated waterbodies |
| Recommended Build | Bottom and feeder angler |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Match rod: Pairs naturally with Bottom and feeder angler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Feeder rod
The bottom fishing workhorse, casting a mesh feeder full of groundbait so bait and attractant land together. The clip setting matters more than the cast itself.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Bream farming at Old Burg Lake and any session where consistency beats mobility. |
| Key Mechanic | Separate skill percentages |
| Recommended Build | Spin angler |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Feeder rod: Pairs naturally with Spin angler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Spinning rod
Built for lures rather than bait, with the retrieve speed of the reel doing most of the work. Matching lure weight to blank test is what stops it snapping.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Grayling and trout on the Belaya River, and predator fishing on any moving water. |
| Key Mechanic | Cafe orders and silver |
| Recommended Build | Marine angler |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Spinning rod: Pairs naturally with Marine angler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Marine rod
Heavy tackle for sea fishing from a boat, rated for drag pressures that would destroy freshwater gear. Expensive to assemble and gated behind a high character level.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | The Norwegian Sea, where the largest fish in the game live. |
| Key Mechanic | Energy, comfort and food |
| Recommended Build | Bait and groundbait crafter |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Marine rod: Pairs naturally with Bait and groundbait crafter thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Mosquito Lake
- Match rod → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Feeder rod → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Telescopic float rod → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 Walkthrough
- Russian Fishing 4 Beginner's Guide
- Russian Fishing 4 Tips & Tricks
- 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
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