Where Winds Meet – Complete Guide to Fishing

Fishing in Where Winds Meet is a mini-game designed for resource gathering, XP, and cooking ingredients. It can be done in rivers, lakes, and shorelines, but not in shallow waters. You need a Fishing Rod and Fishing Bait to start, and using better rods lets you catch larger, rarer fish. Fishing also provides buffs, recipes, and exploration points.

1. How to Unlock Fishing

Fishing NPC Location

To start fishing, players must interact with a specific NPC. Unlocking this mechanic early gives access to baits, rods, mini-games, and contests that are crucial for progression.

1. Go to Vernant Wilds, near the General Shrine.
2. Locate Angler Chu Shuiyang, who stands by the water.
3. Initiate conversation and choose “Want a Fishing Rod”.
4. She will provide:
   • Kid’s Fishing Rod (basic rod for beginners)
   • 30x Dough Bait (for carp-type fish)
   • 30x Worm Bait (for cutless fish, catfish, palrit)
   • 30x Plant Bait (for grass carp, bream)
5. Complete her tutorial and participate in the fishing contest to learn mechanics and the proper use of baits.

Fishing is unlocked early in the game, making it an essential mini-game for XP, resources, and progression.

2. How to Fish in Where Winds Meet

Fishing mini-game Where Winds meet

In Where Winds Meet, Fishing requires casting, luring, and reeling. Mechanics differ slightly depending on your input method (keyboard/mouse or controller), but the goal is the same: catch fish efficiently while maximizing rewards.

Fishing Using Keyboard/Mouse

1. Press B to open your bag.
2. Equip the Fishing Rod in the Special Items slot.
3. Navigate to a fishing spot and press X to start the mini-game.
4. Hold Left Click to cast; release near the top of the bar for accurate throws.
5. Shake the rod using Space to lure fish.
6. When a fish bites, keep it inside the green meter at the top using the mouse.
7. Reel in using Space once the progress bar fills.
8. Switch bait by holding Alt and scrolling with the mouse wheel.

Tips:

• Practice the timing of your casts for better accuracy.
• Bigger fish have smaller green meters, requiring quicker and precise reactions.
• Use upgraded rods for easier handling of large or rare fish.

Fishing Using Controller

1. Open Bag and navigate the Quick Use tab using L1/L2/R1/R2.
2. Equip the Fishing Rod in the Special Item slot.
3. Select the rod using D-Pad Left/Right.
4. Go to a fishing spot and press Up on the D-Pad to start.
5. Cast using Square; release near the top of the bar for accuracy.
6. Shake the rod using X to attract fish.
7. Pull fish into the green meter using the Left Stick.
8. Reel in with X once the progress bar fills.

Tips:

• Larger fish require more precise stick movement.
• Adjust your bait selection for the targeted fish species.
• Observe fish behavior for timing the shake and reel.

3. Tai Chi Mystic Art for Fishing

Tai Chi is one of the earliest Mystic Arts you can learn in Where Winds Meet from the quest: A Bear of a Time. You can use Skill Theft to learn Tai Chi from the bear near the tree. With Tai Chi, you can go into the water and use this skill to make ripples in the water, causing the fish to leap out of the water. 

• Use Tai Chi to gather tons of fish in shallow/knee-deep water. 
• Upgrade Tai Chi to a higher level to gain more fish as it increases the ripple effect.
• An efficient way to farm fish early in the game and gather rewards and recipes.

4. How to Get Fishing Bait

Reeling in Fish

Using the correct bait is essential for targeting specific fish species. Different baits increase the success rate of catching desired fish, and some rare fish require specialized bait types.

• Dough: Carp, Christian Carp, Koi
• Worm: Cutless Fish, Catfish, Palrit
• Plant: Grass Carp, Bream

Merchants Who Sell Fishing Bait:

• Xiong Da – Heaven’s Pier (recommended for beginners; also sells Little Toad’s Rod)
• Hu Niu’er’s General Goods – Kaifeng
• Yu Dalang’s Goldfish – Kaifeng

Tip: Upgrade your rods (e.g., Little Toad’s Rod) to catch larger and rarer fish more efficiently.

5. Finding Fishing Spots

Fishing Spots

Proper fishing spots increase your chances of catching high-quality and rare fish. Fish spawn only in deep enough water, and specific spots can be tracked via the map.

• Fish are present in knee-deep water or deeper.
• Use the Fishing Rod icon in the Special Items menu to confirm the spot.
• Track fish via Map → Herb icon → Fish species.
• Works only in areas you’ve previously explored.

Tip: Some rare fish spawn at specific times of day, so experiment with different spots and times.

6. Fishing Contests and Challenges

Chu Shuiyang Fish NPC

Fishing contests are mini-competitions against NPCs, providing unique rewards and challenges. They require the best rods, proper bait, and skillful timing to succeed. NPC fishermen are marked by special icons on the map near water bodies.

Example: Challenge Chu Shuiyang for a timed contest; she’s the same NPC from whom you can unlock fishing and get a kid’s fishing rod.

Rewards include:

• Cooking recipes
• Exploration XP
• Jade fish
• Rare fish and buffs

Tip: Mastering the casting rhythm improves your chances of winning contests and catching rare fish.

7. Fishing Rewards

Fishing provides resources, currency, XP, and items that contribute to character progression, stamina, and buffs.

• Food & Recipes – improve stamina and provide buffs
• Character EXP – levels up your character
• Exploration XP – boosts exploration stats
• Jade Fish & Treasure Coins – in-game currency
• Research Points – unlock fishing-related achievements

Fishy Objective Example:

This is one of the first side quest objectives you get after you’ve acquired your first fishing rod from Chu Shuiyang.

• Objective: Black Bream
• Bait Required: Worm

Rewards:

• Wriggling Fish x1
• Recipe: Divine Stuffed Fish
• Treasure Coin x5,000
• Zhou Coin x1,000
• Character EXP x1,000
• Qinghe Exploration x10
• Mindset x3

Completing objectives teaches bait effectiveness, casting timing, and fish behavior.

8. Tips for Successful Fishing

Applying proper strategies ensures efficient catches, faster progression, and maximum rewards from the mini-game.

• Upgrade rods early for easier handling of larger fish.
• Match bait types with fish species for higher success rates.
• Practice casting rhythm to increase accuracy and speed.
• Participate in fishing contests to gain rare items and XP.
• Track fish locations on the map to save time and focus on valuable species.
• Use cooking buffs or stamina potions to maintain efficiency during extended fishing sessions.
• Check the time of day for rare fish, as some spawn only during specific periods

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