Quick answer
Your fishing rod must be equipped on the toolbar, not merely carried in your backpack. During the fight, hold the button while the fish is resting and release it when the fish starts fighting. Reeling against a fighting fish makes tension spike and can snap the line very quickly.
Bait is consumed when you cast, even if you fail. Each fishing spot also contains a limited fish stock and restocks gradually, so an empty spot does not automatically mean your bait is wrong.
You can get the best 
Pro Fishing Rod for free through the Port Fisherman quest chain by delivering 5 
River, 5 
Sea and 5 
Mysterious Fish Fillets.
How to unlock fishing
The first rod comes from the twins.
During Two Peas in a Pod, bring them 6 
Clay Plates.
The reward gives you the 
Basic Fishing Rod and starts normal fishing progression.
If you already have a rod but cannot interact with the water, check your toolbar.
A rod sitting in the backpack does not count as equipped.
The rod must be on your toolbar
Drag the rod into an active toolbar slot.
That matters for two reasons.
First, fishing spots only recognize the equipped rod.
Second, rods are Farming equipment and contribute Farming Mastery while equipped.
A strong rod therefore helps outside fishing too, including:
crop planting;
starred recipes;
For the Gold Wine problem, see How to Get Gold-Star Wine.
How the fishing fight works
After casting, wait for the bite.
When the actual fight begins, pay attention to the fish state and tension.
Fish is resting
Hold the button.
You reel it toward the Keeper.
Fish starts fighting
Release the button.
Tension falls while the fish regains a little distance.
Keep reeling during a fight
Tension rises extremely fast.
At critical tension the line flashes a warning, and you can lose the catch roughly a second later.
The biggest beginner mistake is treating fishing as “hold until the bar reaches you.”
The real rhythm is:
reel → release → reel → release
based on the fish.
Why does my line keep breaking?
Common causes:
Reeling while the fish fights
The number-one reason.
As soon as the fish enters its struggle animation, release.
Farming Mastery is low
Mastery affects how comfortable fishing is.
Better equipment makes difficult fish easier.
The fish is ahead of your current rod tier
Later spots and species are designed around later fishing technologies.
You may technically be able to cast there while still having a miserable time with weak equipment.
Bait is spent even if you fail
This matters once bait becomes expensive.
The game consumes bait on the cast, not on the successful catch.
If:
the fish escapes;
you cancel;
you catch the wrong fish;
the bait is already gone.
Do not burn rare 
Live Bait on random testing until you understand the spot.
Do all fish need bait?
No.
Depending on the species and spot, fish may use:
Every fishing spot has its own pool and requirements.
If a fish never appears without bait, that can simply be how its table works.
Breadcrumb bait
Breadcrumbs are part of 
Fishing II.
This is the first normal bait progression after basic fishing.
If you plan to fish repeatedly, keep a stack ready because every cast consumes one.
Insect bait
Insects arrive with 
Fishing III.
By this stage you usually have:
more Farming Mastery;
access to new fishing areas.
Several mid-game fish become much more practical here.
Live Bait
Live Bait comes from Fishing IV.
The technology is hidden until the related fishing quest.
After the first battle, the twins start Plenty of Fish in the Sea.
One stage asks for 3 
Flax Thread, leading into Fishing IV and Pro Rod progression.
Do not waste time searching for Live Bait technology before the story reveals it.
Why did my fishing spot stop producing fish?
Fishing spots have limited stock.
You can actually fish out the currently available population.
The spot then recovers gradually.
If your target fish stops appearing, the problem may have nothing to do with:
You may simply have depleted that local stock.
Try another location or come back later.
Should you catch everything?
Not necessarily.
For a quest fish or specific fillet type, choose the right area and bait.
This matters more with expensive bait.
Fishing spots are not identical random-loot pools.
River, sea and mysterious fish belong to different groups.
Basic Fishing Rod
The first tier.
You receive one through the early twin quest and it gives a small Farming bonus.
Crafting recipe:
3 Stick
2 Bronze Detail
2 Flax Thread
At a Woodworking Workbench.
Requires Fishing I.
Amateur Fishing Rod
The next tier.
Recipe:
2 Wooden Plank
2 Polished Bronze
4 Flax Thread
Needs a Woodworking Workbench and Fishing II.
It is also sold by the Tier I Fish Stand.
Advanced Fishing Rod
Mid-game tier.
Recipe:
1 Oiled Beam
2 Advanced Detail
8 Flax Thread
Needs 
Woodworking Workbench II and Fishing III.
It also appears at Fish Stand Tier II.
Fishing becomes much more forgiving around this point.
Pro Fishing Rod
The best normal rod.
Crafting uses late materials:
2 Special Wood
2 Engineering Detail
16 Flax Thread
Needs Woodworking Workbench II and Fishing IV.
Fish Stand Tier III also sells it, but the price is extremely high compared with earning one for free.
How to get the Pro Rod for free
After the first battle, the Port Fisherman has a three-stage quest chain.
He asks for:
- 1
- 2
- 3
Each stage opens more fish-cooking recipes and awards 
Town Gratitude.
After the Mysterious Fish stage, he gives you the Pro Fishing Rod.
This is one of the best side quests in the mid-game:
best rod;
fish recipes;
Gratitude;
no huge trader payment;
no late crafting materials.
For Gratitude, see Town Gratitude and Happiness Explained.
What are River, Sea and Mysterious Fillets?
They are categories, not one exact fish.
Processing fish gives the relevant fillet type.
So the Fisherman is not asking you to catch one unique species five times.
You can use any fish that processes into the requested category.
Rods improve Farming outside fishing
If a rod is equipped on the toolbar, its Farming bonus contributes to other Farming checks.
That can help with:
planting;
starred crop requirements;
cooking-related Farming recipes.
A better rod can therefore help you reach the high Farming values needed by the Vineyard.
See Fertilizers and Crop Quality.
Which rod should you buy or craft?
Basic
Take the free quest rod.
Amateur
Crafting is reasonable if you already have the materials.
Advanced
Depends on your progression; buying can sometimes be simpler.
Pro
Do the Fisherman quest first.
Buying a very expensive Pro Rod while a free quest reward exists is usually unnecessary.
Why doesn't the Fish Stand sell my rod?
Shop stock depends on tier.
Roughly:
Tier III →
Pro.
If the Fish Stand exists but the rod is missing, check the shop upgrade.
See How to Upgrade Town Shops.
Fishing and Farming Mastery
If a fish is too hard, a new rod is not your only option.
Farming can also come from:
talents;
rod;
shovel and other equipment;
temporary buffs.
Mastery combines several sources.
See Mastery Explained.
A practical progression route
A comfortable sequence is:
- 1
- 2
learn river fishing without expensive bait;
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
after the first battle, complete the Fisherman chain;
- 7
- 8
That keeps fishing aligned with normal game progression.
FAQ
Why can't I start fishing?
The rod must be on your toolbar.
When do I hold the button?
While the fish is not fighting.
When do I release?
During the fish's struggle phase.
Is bait returned after a failed catch?
No. It is consumed on cast.
Why did a spot stop giving fish?
It has limited stock. Let it restock or move elsewhere.
Where do I get the Pro Rod?
Complete the Port Fisherman chain: 5 River, 5 Sea and 5 Mysterious Fish Fillets.
