Reasons for fishing
by Mike Schramm 
Sep 22nd 2006 at 8:03PM
Nightshift from Lightbringer has a great question over on the forums (forums back up ftw). He asks, "HOW I MINE FOR FISH?" No, just kidding, he asks: Why fish?I've always been puzzled by this too. First Aid is really the only secondary skill I've ever bothered to level up (because it's necessary for almost any class). Cooking and Fishing have never held interest for me. I tried both of them out-- on my hunter and warrior especially I thought they would come in handy. But the time (fishing) and cost (cooking ingredients) involved in both never seemed to compare to what I got out of them.
Players in the thread claim you can get a lot out of fishing: special food, alchemy ingredients and recipes, and a chance at treasure that you can't get otherwise. But for the time commitment or cost, I've always found it's easier and cheaper to just pull what I need out of the AH. Fishing reminds me of crafting in Dark Age of Camelot-- if you ever played that game, you'll remember that higher level item crafting took longer and longer casting times (until, at high levels, it took like five minutes of meter watching to make one item). Both cooking and fishing seem like neat gimmicks, but in terms of gameplay, I've never really found them necessary or even interesting.
I do have a Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000 sitting in my Shaman's bank, however. Is there a good reason I should get it out and start angling? And if so, is there any way to make fishing more interesting?
Filed under: Fishing, Cooking, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Economy
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Keeper of the Dumplings Sep 22nd 2006 8:48PM
Fishing can be alright if you are fishing with a friend, but it helps if you are wearing a special outfit for it, at least the leather hat!
If you have enough fishers in your guild it really helps when having to worry about certain potions, flasks, food buffs, and for those with professions that can't really aid a raiding guild, like blacksmithing, it gives you a sense of accomplishment when you contribute somehow.
Speaking of food buffs...
http://murlocdumplings.com
thingy Sep 22nd 2006 8:59PM
There's a lot of good items you can get for buffs from fishing/cooking. Grilled Squid (in the right months) that adds agility, other food that when cooked adds stamina, strength etc. Once you have the skill up, 30-60 minutes of fishing a week is all you really need to get some extra buffs for raiding.
The trick is, don't bother when you're levelling. It's a waste of time. Wait until you're 60 and won't get ganked by mobs. Train your fishing and cooking at the same time. Most fishing trainers have cooking recipe's that use fish nearby them. You can (and will) level both very evenly quite easily. Only money spent will be on firewood and cheap spices/water. It is the fastest and cheapest way to level cooking.
The next trick is to stay in lowby areas. Your fishing skill is based PURELY on the number of fish you catch. The level of the pond you're fishing in has no effect what so ever on how fast you level. In fact, the higher the pond the more likely your fish will get away which will actually slow your levelling down. The highest level zone you should go to prior to getting 300 fishing is a lvl 40 zone, otherwise you're just gimping yourself.
Third trick is for the quest, use Thottbot. You can spend hours upon hours, possibly even days upon days trying to find that rare fish (and there's 4 you need to catch). Look up the fish on thottbot, go directly to the co-ords given on the site, you'll get it within 5 casts. Some may call this cheating, but on the other hand why waste your time and get yourself frustrated? You can't get the quest until you hit a certain level and you can't raise your level from that point on until the quest is complete.
Finally, baubles and other such things you can attach to your rod are your friend. Don't skimp on 'em.
Sylythn Sep 22nd 2006 9:55PM
I fish for money...seriously at lower levels Oily Blackmouth, Firefin Snapper, and Sagemouth can net you some easy money on the AH. Stranglekelp usually is pretty good money too. And I love having a stock of Rumsey Rum around...never had a problem with drunkeness (so long as I only use 1 every 15m). It doesn't take too long to get a full stack of fish.
Just like in real life though, best time for fishing is early in the morning - when no one else is on. You'll be able to go right down the river or shoreline and hit every spot - without worrying about being ganked by a PVPer (for PVP servers) or places being over-fished.
Argent Sep 22nd 2006 10:29PM
it's kinda dependent on class, i suppose, but for the most part, first aid and cooking are the two secondary skills you'll want/need. fishing is more fo a 'nice to have' type thing.
being able to make stuff like +sta or +mp/5 food has it's uses and virtues, so i wouldn't go out of my way to sell it short.
fishing is almost like a sub-skill of alchemy these days -- if you don't need flasks, chances are you don't have much use for fishing (other than to perhaps provide for cooking supplies -- though even there i know of people who will pay others to fish for them...)
AcceptableRisk Sep 23rd 2006 12:38AM
For me, fishing has more than paid for itself. It was probably the thing that earned me the most money while leveling. From Deviate Fish to Blackmouth to Firefin to Stonescale, the cash is pretty nice for the alchemic fish. Sagefish Delight kept me never needing mana potions while leveling and the loot you can haul up is pretty respectable as well.
Sadly, I don't get as much time to fish anymore since I mostly used it as a way to fill in the time while waiting for BG queues. I can hardly make it to a good Stonescale spot before getting the summon these days.
Trippy Sep 23rd 2006 2:51AM
Heck yeah I fish!
Level 35 Priest with Herbalism and Alchemy, I'd be crazy not to. I also have first aid and cooking. It saves me so much money when I can catch a fish and cook it(I never have to buy wood btw just use whatever fire is closest)and it'll not only feed me but up my mana as well. Not to mention saving me the expense of buying alchemy ingredients for the potions I need. Plus I often sell potions in the AH and make more money then just selling the fish itself.
Besides there's nothing like taking a break from grinding and instances just to sit and fish, soooo peaceful in the right places.
Illdan Sep 23rd 2006 5:14AM
You can summon Gahz'ranka in ZG only if you have 300 fishing. You need to catch fish and summon him with the bait :)
He is fairly easy, fun to fight and he drops the best feral druid staff available.
Here is what he drops:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/mob.html?wmob=15114
Greetings,
Illdan, Silvermoon EU
Wesley Sep 23rd 2006 5:21AM
I have found in the bay of storms you can actually fish up elemental water from special spots.
Karine Sep 25th 2006 8:40AM
I fish because it's fun and relaxing. Simple as that.
Also, my tailor has been loving the bolts of silk/mageweave/runecloth, and the leather, from rings and wreckages.