A fishing rod is one of the most relaxing and useful tools in Minecraft. It gives you food, experience and, with a little luck, treasure such as enchanted books, saddles, name tags and enchanted bows. It is also used to pull mobs toward you and to steer pigs and striders. This guide explains how to make a fishing rod in Minecraft, how to use it, the best enchantments and every other use.
Quick answer: fishing rod recipe
| Empty | Empty | Stick |
| Empty | Stick | String |
| Stick | Empty | String |
3 sticks and 2 string make 1 fishing rod. The sticks form a diagonal line and the string hangs down the right side. The recipe can also be mirrored. It is the same on Java, Bedrock and consoles.
How to get the ingredients
- Sticks: 2 planks stacked vertically make 4 sticks. See how to make sticks.
- String: kill spiders, break cobwebs with a sword, or barter with piglins. See how to get string.
How to fish
- Stand near water. Any water works, even a single block, but open water with sky above is best.
- Use the fishing rod to cast the bobber into the water.
- Wait. Bubbles and a trail of particles move toward the bobber.
- When the bobber dips under the water, use the rod again to reel it in.
- Your catch flies toward you.
Reel in too early or too late and you catch nothing, so watch the bobber closely. Turning on subtitles helps, because you can hear the splash when a fish bites. Fishing in the rain is slightly faster, and fishing gives experience for every catch.
What can you catch?
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Fish (most common) | Raw cod, raw salmon, tropical fish, pufferfish |
| Treasure (rare) | Enchanted books, enchanted bows and fishing rods, name tags, saddles, nautilus shells |
| Junk | Boots, bowls, sticks, string, leather, bones, ink sacs, tripwire hooks, lily pads, rotten flesh |
Treasure only appears when you fish in open water, a pool at least about 5 by 5 by 5 blocks with nothing above the bobber. In a small pool you will catch fish and junk only. In jungles, fishing can also bring up bamboo as junk.
Best fishing rod enchantments
- Luck of the Sea (I to III): raises the chance of treasure and lowers junk.
- Lure (I to III): makes fish bite faster. See what Lure does.
- Unbreaking (I to III): makes the rod last longer.
- Mending: repairs the rod with the experience you earn from fishing. See what Mending does.
A rod with Luck of the Sea III, Lure III, Unbreaking III and Mending is the perfect fishing rod. You can enchant a rod on an enchanting table or combine books on an anvil. Fishing itself can give you enchanted books, so the rod can help build itself.
Other uses for a fishing rod
- Pull mobs: hook a mob with the bobber and reel in to pull it toward you. Useful for pulling enemies off ledges or into traps, and for moving passive mobs short distances.
- Hook items: the bobber can drag dropped items toward you from a distance.
- Carrot on a stick: combine a fishing rod with a carrot to steer a saddled pig.
- Warped fungus on a stick: combine a rod with a warped fungus to steer a saddled strider across lava in the Nether.
- PvP: on some servers, players hook opponents to knock them back.
Fishing rod durability
A fishing rod has 64 durability. Each catch uses one point, hooking a mob uses more, and pulling items uses some too. Repair it by combining two rods on an anvil or in the crafting grid, or with Mending. See how to repair tools.
AFK fishing
Some players build AFK fishing farms that let them fish without watching the bobber. These rely on game mechanics that change between versions, and they are sometimes banned on servers, so check your server’s rules first. In single player, normal fishing with Lure III is fast enough for most players. See how to fish for more fishing tips.
Fishing rods in Java vs Bedrock
The recipe, durability and enchantments are the same in both editions. Catch rates and loot tables differ a little: for example, the open water rule for treasure is a Java Edition mechanic, while Bedrock calculates treasure chances differently. Fishing in both editions gives food, experience and treasure.
Tips
- Build a small dock on a large lake or the ocean so you are always fishing in open water.
- Fish during storms and at night with a roof over yourself but not over the bobber.
- Cook your catch in a smoker for a quick food supply. See how to make a smoker.
- Keep pufferfish for potions of water breathing instead of eating them.
Common fishing problems
- Nothing bites: make sure the bobber is in water and not resting on a block. Fishing with a roof directly above the bobber is slower.
- I only catch junk: fish in open water, and add Luck of the Sea to the rod.
- The line snaps: the bobber breaks if you move too far away. Stand still while fishing.
- The rod broke: it ran out of durability. Add Unbreaking and Mending to your next rod so it lasts forever.
Fishing is also one of the safest early ways to collect experience and enchanted books, so a rod is worth crafting in your first few days.
Fishing rod vs other food sources
Fishing is slower than farming, but it needs no setup, works anywhere there is water and gives experience with every catch. Cooked salmon and cod restore a decent amount of hunger, which makes a rod a great backup when you are far from home.
FAQ
What do you need to make a fishing rod in Minecraft?
3 sticks and 2 string on a crafting table.
How do you know when to reel in?
When the bobber dips under the water and you hear a splash, use the rod again.
What are the best fishing rod enchantments?
Luck of the Sea III, Lure III, Unbreaking III and Mending.
Can you catch treasure in small ponds?
On Java, treasure only appears in open water of about 5 by 5 by 5 blocks with nothing above the bobber.
How much durability does a fishing rod have?
64. Repair it by combining two rods or with Mending.
Checked by the Game Respawned editorial team against the current Java and Bedrock versions. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.