Welcome to Elderfield
Welcome to Elderfield fishing: rod, bait and location checks
Get the Old Fishing Rod from Herb, equip it and use bait that matches your destination. The community wiki says better rods unlock locations; they do not change species-selection percentages.
Equip, bait and land the catch
Herb at Lakefront provides the starter rod; Neoseeker’s introductory task also supplies bait. The wiki’s input sequence is to equip a rod, choose Use on the required bait, cast and wait. Once a fish bites, click while the arrow overlaps the blue bar until progress fills. Check the bait requirement before repeating casts at a new location.
Match the destination
The wiki lists Old Fishing Rod with Worm or Leech at Lakefront, Maggot in Sewers and Bug in Mall F1 Hallway. Campsite requires Sturdy Fishing Rod with Dragonfly; Lugworm is reserved for an active Fishing Contest. Catacombs requires Quality Fishing Rod and Firefly. Forge the upgraded rods at the Workshop. Collect Dragonflies in Old Woods and Fireflies in Catacombs.
Sources: [1]
Do not confuse selection with success
The wiki separates species selection, minigame success and quality. A listed fish percentage therefore does not promise a landed fish of that quality. For passive catches, place a Crab Pot outdoors at Lakefront or Campsite, add bait and collect the next day. The wiki says pot bait type does not change its catch table, and day or night does not affect pot catches.
Sources: [1]