Fishing Guide: All Fish and Rod Tiers – 99 Nights in the Forest
Fishing is one of the most relaxing activities in 99 Nights in the Forest and one of the most rewarding for badges and rare items. The rarest fishing catch — the Trident — is a weapon that deals 37.5–62 damage. This guide covers every fishing rod, where to fish, and how to earn every fishing badge.
Getting Started: The Fishing Cabin
The Fishing Cabin is a structure found on the map that gives you 5× Old Rods for free when you interact with it. If you want to fish, head to the Fishing Cabin first to stock up. The Cabin also contains a Fish Index Board — filling every slot on this board earns the Trophy Fishing badge (2 stars, 6 Diamonds).
The Fisherman class (50 Diamonds) is the best class for fishing:
- Level 1: Rods level up faster
- Level 2: Instant casts and longer casting distance
- Level 3: Fish hook faster (less waiting)
All Fishing Rod Tiers
Old Rod (Tier 1)
The starting rod. Found in Common and Good Chests, given in bulk by the Fishing Cabin. Catches standard fish at standard speed. Use this until you find a Good Rod.
Best for: Early game, starting out, casual fishing.
Good Rod (Tier 2)
A notable improvement over the Old Rod. Faster hook times and access to rarer fish varieties. Found in mid-tier chests and obtainable by leveling your Old Rod at the Fishing Cabin upgrade station.
Best for: Mid-game fishing, starting to farm specific fish for taming ingredients.
Strong Rod (Tier 3)
The highest standard rod tier. Required to consistently catch sharks (for the Deep Sea Fishing badge) and the rarest fish in the game. Upgrading your rod to max level earns the Baiting badge (0.5 stars, 4 Diamonds).
Best for: Badge farming, catching Tridents, shark hunting.
Fishing Locations
Different fishing spots yield different fish. The wiki documents several key locations:
Standard Lakes and Rivers
The most common fishing spots near camp. Yields basic fish: common species used for hunger and taming. These spots work with any rod tier.
Bone Lake
The rarest and most rewarding fishing location. Bone Lake is the primary source of the Trident, the rarest fishing item in the game. The Trident functions as a weapon (37.5–62 damage) rather than food. Bone Lake also has a higher chance of rare fish species needed for the Trophy Fishing badge.
If you are fishing specifically for the Trident, use a Strong Rod at Bone Lake and bring the Fisherman class (Level 3 for faster hooking reduces the time investment significantly).
Snow Biome Waters
The Snow Biome has dedicated fishing spots for cold-water fish species. These are needed for the Fish Index Board if you are working toward Trophy Fishing. Bring warm clothing (Knitting badge: craft 10 warm clothing items, 1 star, 5 Diamonds) to reduce the cold penalty.
Fish Used for Taming
Some fish are required specifically for taming Alpha Wolves:
Alpha Wolf taming recipe: Steak ×4 + Mackerel ×4 + Salmon ×4
Mackerel and Salmon are mid-rarity fish caught in standard lakes. Stock up if you are playing Beastmaster class or working toward the Husbandry badge.
Fishing Badges
| Badge | Requirement | Stars | Diamonds | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baiting | Upgrade fishing rod to max level | 0.5★ | 4D | Level your Old Rod → Good Rod → Strong Rod at the Fishing Cabin upgrade station |
| Fishing | Catch 100 fish | 1★ | 5D | Fish at any spot; bring Fisherman class for faster hooks |
| Trophy Fishing | Catch every fish type (fill Fish Index Board) | 2★ | 6D | Fish at multiple biome locations; Bone Lake for rares |
| Deep Sea Fishing | Catch 30 sharks | 5★ | 10D | Strong Rod required; best done at deep water spots with Fisherman L3 |
Deep Sea Fishing awards 10 Diamonds — tied with Hard Mode for the highest Diamond value of any single badge. However, it requires catching 30 sharks, which is a significant time investment. This badge is best pursued over multiple sessions rather than in one run.
The Trident
The Trident is the most notable fishing item in the game. Instead of being food, it functions as a melee weapon:
- Damage: 37.5–62
- Source: Fishing (Bone Lake primarily)
- Rarity: Very rare catch
The Trident's damage sits between the Revolver and the Morningstar on the DPS scale, making it a solid mid-game melee weapon. It is also the only weapon obtainable through fishing rather than chests or combat, which makes it unique for builds that focus on the Fishing Cabin route.
Fishing Class Builds
Solo fishing build:
- Fisherman (50D) for faster rod leveling, instant casts, faster hooks
- Explorer (80D) for +2 sack space to carry more fish without trips back to camp
- Strong Rod equipped
- Fish Index Board filled = Trophy Fishing badge (2★, 6D)
Badge-farming build:
- Fisherman (50D) Level 3
- Strong Rod at Bone Lake
- Goal: 30 sharks for Deep Sea Fishing (5★, 10D)
Quick Fishing Tips
- Always pick up your 5 free Old Rods from the Fishing Cabin at the start of a run.
- Upgrade your rod at the Fishing Cabin station — do not throw away Old Rods before checking if they can level up.
- Fish during the day, not at night when The Deer is active.
- If you are near water and have spare inventory slots, cast a line while doing other tasks nearby. Fish can sit on the hook for a while.
- The Fish Index Board only fills once per unique fish species — you do not need to catch multiples of the same fish for Trophy Fishing.
