Getting Started with the Doloc Town Fishing Guide
Fishing in Doloc Town feels surprisingly rewarding for a side activity in a post-apocalyptic farming sim. With the Pastoral Waves update, the developers at RedSaw Games Studio expanded fish counts to over 20 species spread across six distinct waters, and they even added a full breeding system on top of catching. This Doloc Town fishing guide walks you through rods, locations, rare catches, and breeding so you can stop losing nibbles and start filling your aquarium with profit.
Before you cast your first line, make sure Proti has a fishing rod in hand and a handful of basic bait. Starter gear is handed out during the opening tutorial on the Dock, but the real treasures lie in the Wetlands and Mountain Pond where rare species like Glow Eel and Sturgeon patrol deeper waters. You'll also want to clear out at least three inventory squares, because the heaviest catches (looking at you, Wolf Fish) can weigh you down fast and force a costly return trip to base.
What You Need Before Casting
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A Fishing Rod (the Wooden Rod is the first one you receive from Marlo)
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At least 10 units of bait — Worms are cheapest, but Lure Bait catches rarer fish
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A clear inventory slot of three squares for trophy-sized fish like Sturgeon
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Patience, because the bite animation lasts between 3 and 8 seconds depending on rod tier
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Comfortable standing on a dock or shoreline tile, since casting from grass fails silently
Best Fishing Rods and Tackle in Doloc Town
Not all rods are created equal, and upgrading early makes a noticeable difference in both catch speed and rare-fish odds. The Doloc Town fishing guide recommends following a clear upgrade path rather than hoarding scrap for the legendary tier, because mid-game catches fund the late-game rods anyway.
Rod Tier Comparison
| Rod Name | Tier | Cast Distance | Rare Catch Bonus | Where to Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden Rod | 1 | Short | 0% | Starter reward at the Dock |
| Iron Rod | 2 | Medium | +5% | Crafting Bench (Workshop Level 2) |
| Carbon Rod | 3 | Long | +12% | Wetlands Fishing Merchant |
| High-End Rod | 4 | Longest | +25% | Mountain Pond vendor (post-Pastoral Waves) |
The High-End Rod is widely regarded by the community as the best fishing rod in Doloc Town, primarily because the +25% rare-catch bonus stacks with bait bonuses rather than replacing them. According to the Pastoral Waves patch notes on Steam, this rod was added in the same update that introduced breeding, so newer players who joined after August 2025 unlock it within their first in-game week.
Tackle and Bait Choices
| Bait Type | Cost | Best For | Catch Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worms | 5 coins | Common fish | +0% |
| Insect Lure | 25 coins | Mid-tier species | +8% |
| Glow Grub | 80 coins | Nocturnal fish | +18% |
| Synthetic Lure | 120 coins | Legendary fish | +30% |
Pair your High-End Rod with Synthetic Lure during rainy in-game weather, because the combo reportedly pushes rare-fish odds above 45% based on community data from the Steam Community guides. The bait-and-weather stack is the single most reliable way to farm Glow Eels without burning through dozens of in-game days.
All Fish Locations and Rare Species to Catch
Doloc Town features 20+ fish species across six waters, and each location favors a different roster. Knowing which biome hosts which fish saves hours of guesswork and wasted bait. Map markers aren't always obvious, so this section pairs with the broader Doloc Town map guide for orientation when you're still learning the layout.
Where to Fish in Doloc Town
| Location | Common Fish | Rare Fish | Best Time of Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dock | Sardine, Mackerel | Mimicry Fish | Morning |
| Wetlands | Catfish, Perch | Glow Eel | Night |
| River Valley | Trout, Pike | Koi | Afternoon |
| Deer Statue Pond | Bass, Carp | Sturgeon | Dusk |
| Eastern Pond | Minnow, Sunfish | Wolf Fish | Dawn |
| Mountain Pond | Salmon, Chub | Glow Eel | Any time |
For a deeper breakdown of every spawn point and the fastest routes between them, the community-maintained Doloc Town All Fish Locations Guide on Steam lists GPS-style coordinates that pair nicely with the Doloc Town wetlands guide for players heading east of town on their first expedition.
Rare Fish Rarity Tier List
| Fish Name | Rarity | Sell Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mimicry Fish | ★★★☆☆ | 220 coins | Only bites with Insect Lure |
| Koi | ★★★★☆ | 480 coins | River Valley dusk only |
| Sturgeon | ★★★★☆ | 550 coins | Deer Statue Pond |
| Wolf Fish | ★★★★☆ | 600 coins | Eastern Pond, dawn only |
| Glow Eel | ★★★★★ | 1,200 coins | Wetlands at night, bioluminescent |
The Glow Eel is the crown jewel of any Doloc Town fishing guide because it sells for 1,200 coins and is required for several late-game crafting recipes, including the Lumen Lantern and Biofilter Tank. Reported by players as the toughest regular spawn, it only appears after midnight in-game and during specific weather windows, so most anglers dedicate one full in-game night per week to chasing it.
Fish Breeding After the Pastoral Waves Update
The Pastoral Waves update added full fish breeding mechanics, letting you pair two adults in a breeding tank to produce offspring with inherited stats. This is the single biggest reason to start a serious fishing operation rather than just selling catches raw, because a healthy breeding colony turns fish from a side hustle into a primary income source.
How Breeding Works Step by Step
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Place two adult fish of the same species into the Aquaculture Tank (crafted at the Workshop Level 3)
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Feed them Nutrient Pellets at 50 coins per pair, or 25 coins if you grow the ingredients on your farm
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Wait 24 in-game hours for the eggs to hatch into fry
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The fry inherits 70% of the parents' average size plus random rare traits drawn from a hidden pool
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Raise the fry to adulthood (another 48 in-game hours) before selling or breeding again
Breeding follows a simple inheritance table, but the mutation chance scales sharply with the rarity of your parents, which is why veteran fishers skip Common parents entirely once they've banked enough rare spawns.
Breeding Outcome Table
| Parent Rarity | Mutation Chance | Stat Boost | Time to Hatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common + Common | 2% | None | 24h |
| Rare + Common | 8% | +5% size | 24h |
| Rare + Rare | 18% | +12% size | 20h |
| Legendary + Legendary | 35% | +25% size, glow trait | 16h |
Breeding two Glow Eels is the most lucrative combo, because the offspring inherit the bioluminescent trait and sell for nearly 1,800 coins at maturity. According to community data shared on the Steam discussions, the fastest known breeding loop nets around 12,000 coins per in-game week once you stabilize a Glow Eel colony and avoid common parent pairings.
Advanced Tips and Common Fishing Mistakes
Even after mastering rods and locations, a few subtle habits separate casual anglers from full-time fish farmers in Doloc Town. The tips below come from veteran players who have logged hundreds of in-game hours since launch and consistently top the seasonal fishing leaderboards.
Pro Tips for Steady Income
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Cast into shadow zones — rare fish prefer darker water patches near rocks and reeds, especially at the Mountain Pond, where the northern cove hides three extra Glow Eel spawns per in-game day
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Save before rare spawns — the game occasionally triggers a Golden Catch event that doubles all rare fish for one in-game day; reload from the last save if you miss the trigger window
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Upgrade rod durability first — a broken rod mid-rare-catch means losing both the fish and your bait, so prioritize the Reinforced Line attachment before chasing legendaries
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Time your sessions to weather — rain boosts Sturgeon spawns at Deer Statue Pond by roughly 30% according to community testing across multiple saves
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Stack two High-End Rods — you can carry a backup rod for emergencies; the second one preserves your rare catch if the first breaks mid-fight, which happens more often than you'd expect against Wolf Fish
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Using Wooden Rod at Mountain Pond | 0% rare bonus wastes Synthetic Lure | Upgrade to High-End Rod first |
| Selling Glow Eels raw | Loses 1,200 coin breeding potential | Breed at least one pair per catch |
| Ignoring bait variety | Locks you out of nocturnal fish | Carry Glow Grub for night sessions |
| Skipping the breeding tank | Caps your long-term gold income | Build Aquaculture Tank by Week 3 |
| Fishing only at the Dock | Misses five entire biomes | Rotate through all six waters |
Pair this checklist with the Doloc Town fishing spots breakdown for specific tile coordinates, and you'll be set for every biome in the game without burning bait on dry water tiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fishing rod in Doloc Town?
The High-End Rod is the best fishing rod in Doloc Town because it grants a +25% rare catch bonus, the longest cast distance, and works with every bait tier in the game. It unlocks at the Mountain Pond vendor after the Pastoral Waves update, costing roughly 4,500 coins plus three Sturgeon fillets.
Where do I catch the Glow Eel?
You can catch the Glow Eel in either the Wetlands or Mountain Pond between midnight and dawn in-game. Use a High-End Rod paired with Glow Grub bait, and fish during rainy weather to maximize your odds of a bite within the limited window.
Can I breed fish in Doloc Town?
Yes. Fish breeding was added in the Pastoral Waves update. Place two adult fish of the same species in an Aquaculture Tank, feed them Nutrient Pellets, and wait 16 to 24 in-game hours for the eggs to hatch with inherited stats and rare mutation traits.
How much does the rarest fish sell for?
The Glow Eel sells for 1,200 coins when caught wild and up to 1,800 coins when bred with the glow trait. Legendary-tier catches are the most reliable late-game gold source outside of crop gene optimization, and they stack nicely with ranching profits.
Is fishing worth it compared to farming?
Fishing is worth it once you unlock both the High-End Rod and the Aquaculture Tank. The breeding loop produces roughly 12,000 coins per in-game week, which rivals high-yield vertical farming without the daily watering grind, especially during storm seasons when crops fail.