XBOX Leveling Guide

[GTAngler]

I am sure that with most people spending much more time at home these days, a ca. 2020 Leveling Guide will be helpful. I'm playing on XBOX and learned a lot from general guides via YouTube and etc., but I think this will help.

A few things first:
1- I am not going to go over much in terms of specific controls. The controller layout is listed in-game and is accurate.
2- I don't want you to waste money or time in the early and mid level phases, so this is an efficient guide more than anything else.
3- I'm going to give names and measurements in METRIC UNITS. I have lived in places that use both metric and imperial, but metric is far more useful in this game because of how size comparisons are indicated in the tackle and home capacity boxes.

STEP ONE:
Welcome to Fishing Planet.

Upon entry to the game, you complete a few basic tutorial lessons and will soon reach Level 3. At this early stage, you'll be in Lone Star Lake - Texas. Your main target fish is the Spotted Bass.

Regardless of HOW you get to Level 3, or how fast, your main objective upon getting there should be to learn the game mechanics while fishing Lone Star Lake, UNTIL YOU REACH LEVEL 8. I'll explain why shortly.

But anyhow, from Level 3 until Level 8, here is a list of basically everything that you'll want to buy, using the in-game cash you are earning in Texas:

At Level 3.............
1- Buy a ValueSpin 190 (6'3") spinning Rod, and a MiniSpin 1200 Reel. This combo isn't powerful, but it will catch the Spotted Bass in Texas just fine. Use a lightweight casting spoon or similar lure at this point. You don't need much to get started. Mono Line suitable for a 3lb Test is fine here. USE THIS SETUP to farm Bass out of Lone Star Lake and keep catching them until Level 6.

At Level 6.............
1- Buy a FishCell XS Stringer. In general you want to keep upgrading stringers and keepnets, but I would say stick with stringers for awhile. They hold a higher weight per level, and in the early game this matters. At Level 6 already with this one, you can hold 10Kg or 22Lb of fish per in-game fishing day. That's a decent haul of cash in Texas for just getting started.

At Level 8...............
1- You can get rid of the Level 3 setup now, and replace it with the following:
++ Elemental 8'6 / 260 Spinning Rod (3.5 Kg line rating)
++ WinCast 2500 Spinning Reel (2.7 Kg rating)
++ Mono Line with a Test that will tolerate 6lbs (2.7 Kg) of drag.

This is a crucial jump-up in gear. By this point you may be getting "tired" of Texas, but the reality is that if you can't just keep grinding out these Bass for this long, the rest of the game & its economy will make it a long, long haul for you. Stay in Texas early, you can spend cash on traveling later.

The next section of this guide will handle what to do upon reaching Level 10............I strongly recommend NOT leaving Texas and it's safe and economic fishing before this point.

++
GTAngler

[GTAngler]

Section Two:

"The Texas Transition"

One of the things that I love about Fishing Planet is that you can progress at a pace that you're enjoying. Some people want to constantly stretch the Limits of their Level. Some want to Learn the Basics early, and move along a little bit more slowly. I advise the latter of these two options.

If you want to make the move out of Texas somewhat permanently, assuming that you've been able to successfully catch Spotted Bass and maybe a few other assorted creatures there, then you ought to consider the following between Levels 3 and 10.............

1- Buy all the gear listed above, and just use Mono Line at this point, but make it match the reel in use.

2- Use casting spoons for the most part in Texas. Cast them out, let them drop, drag them along the bottom, catch a Bass. Repeat.

3- Buy that FishCellXS listed above, and KEEP FILLING IT UP each game day until you hit Level 10. The discipline will come in handy later, trust me. If you want to invest in an Unlimited Texas License for 7 baitcoins, you can ---------- that choice is up to you.

4- When you hit Level 7, invest in 7g, #1/0 Narrow Spoons. Get Silver and Gold both. When it's Cloudy, use the Gold. When it's Sunny, use the Silver. When you hit Level 9, get the Purple and Black #1/0 Narrow Spoons. I'm telling you, that purple one might be the most profitable lure in the entire game for an early to mid level player. You'll still be using it religiously in New York and Oregon, if not even later.

5- When you do arrive at Level 10, and hopefully you're still at Texas, go ahead and purchase the following:

++ Featherlight 200 (6'6) Spinning Rod
++ EspiraSlim 2500 Spinning Reel
++ Stick with 6lb/2.7Kg Line

6- Upgrade to the 15Kg (33lb) FishJail XS Stringer.

From here on out, you can begin to seriously consider a trip to Colorado or Missouri next, and have the ability to make such a trip worth your while.

[Capt_Mac_141]

That's credible advice but sadly most will not heed your warning.

I have heard so many that leap from Texas at the earliest opportunity, go broke, then complain and request a re-set of their account.

Your post is GOOD ADVICE, hoping new players take it.

[GTAngler]

Section Three:

Moving On

Before I started really playing FP, I was scared by the "horror stories" of people who kept traveling to another location, only to return to Texas as some sort of economic punishment in the game.

It seemed like the way to avoid being FORCED back to Texas (although even now I do sometimes fish there for fun, but never from necessity) was to
1- Take travel slowly and cautiously,
2- Research the next Lake you plan to visit before going, and
3- Wait until you're 5 to 7 Levels OVER the required minimum level for that Lake.

Again, this is written from an XBox Perspective in Spring 2020, so at this time Missouri is accessible at Level 4, and Colorado at Level 5. My suggestion, though, would be to hold off on either until Level 10, and frankly until Level 13 if you can be patient, and I'll explain why shortly.

I should also note in here somewhere that as you're grinding your way through Texas, and hopefully getting pretty good with those Spotted Bass, you've almost certainly also tried to finish the little side missions (Lone Star Explorer, etc) and that means that you've been learning to Float Fish as well.

Lure Fishing = You manipulate a Lure (a spoon, casting spoon, nano spoon, a bass jig, etc) through the water to find a biting fish.

Float Fishing = You attach a hook to a line, along with a bobber on the line and bait on the hook, and throw the line into the lake, waiting for a fish to bite.

You'll need both types at different times, but I mention this because early on you'll have limited options and getting competent at both styles will help you catch a bigger variety, and also prepare you for future travel destinations.

Anyhow................
Between the money you're making catching Texas fish, the money earned when Leveling Up, and the money received from in-game daily play bonuses, you should by Level 10-13 have enough cash saved up to purchase the following:

1- Aurora 230 (7'6) Spinning Rod
2- TWO Callisto MG3000 Spinning Reels (One for the Aurora Rod, one for the Nero Rod Below)
3- Mono or Flouro Line for 3.6 Kg Test
4- Fish Jail XS (L10) or FishJail S (L13) <<<<< I would wait for the Level 13 one, personally.
5- Nero 330 (10'10) Match Rod (for Float Fishing)


Those items, along with the appropriate Lures and Bait, will handle anything that Missouri or Colorado can throw at you. Colorado in particular, with that setup or a similar one, should make you a lot of money because Trout as a group are a profitable family of fish, and Rocky Lake-CO is just full to the brim with them.

If you do pick Colorado, and take along that setup or similar, you can ensure that you'll never return to Texas involuntarily by observing my simple "3-5-7" Rule:

THREE in-game Days of fishing in one place without leaving. (Or more)
FIVE times the total cost of travel, earned over the course of the trip. (Or more)
SEVEN times the cost of one in-game day, earned on each in-game day. (Or more)
+++++ (I ignore licensing costs because everyone has a different preference. So you have to factor those in also, but I'm not going to decide for you which one is the best fit for your schedule.)

EXAMPLE:
Colorado costs 1700 credits for Travel, and 300 per in-game day fished. So the first day costs you 2000 (1700+300). EACH ADDITIONAL DAY only costs another 300 though, and that's important. But you, smart angler, have a three-day minimum, so that's (1700+300+300+300 = 2600).

Meaning, your Goal is to fish Colorado for 3+ in-game days, earn 13,000 cash (2600x5) over the length of the trip, and also clear 2,100 cash (300x7) on each in-game day. And the setup offered above will for sure accomplish that set of goals for you. You may have noticed that you might need to spend MORE than 3 in-game days in Colorado without leaving, depending on how much you catch in a day..............and frankly, that's just fine! Good discipline and practice for later.

[Ollystan]

Excellent article GTAngler, a massive pat on the back for you. Will help many new players of fishing planet. Hats off to you bro.

[Lindenmooch]

early game dont ever go to mudwater. it sucks. emerald is meh. north carolina is great early/mid game when you can get bass equipment. white moose lake is a damn treasure lake. go there as soon as you can. the salmon and trout will definitely fight you until you can get better equipment. i am level 40 and still love that spot. and trophy lake trout still fight me with 30lb line. but trust me, as soon as you can get to white moose, go there. there are pike there that are worth a ton of money, and salmon and trout. i've been to every north american location you can go to at level 40, and white moose is by far and away the best fishing spot.

[Fischkopf]

i would agree so far with the guide but i would recommend to do the low level missions on the lakes as well. traveling to the lakes is very cheap and XP, extra Gear and Money are worth the travel.
Generally i would recommend to stay with entry level gear until level 11. Then you can buy a Featherlight 215, 15mm braid and an Espira Slim 2500- with a flourocarbon leader- this is your weapon to fight all fish at Colorado and grind money and xp with trout. will be much more efficient than all those Pike and Zander, as you can catch a ton of it way more faster. as soon as you can buy the jigwinner switch to it and go to falcon lake - tons of trout, tons of xp are wating for you there..

[GTAngler]

Originally posted by Jägermaster:

i would agree so far with the guide but i would recommend to do the low level missions on the lakes as well. traveling to the lakes is very cheap and XP, extra Gear and Money are worth the travel.
Generally i would recommend to stay with entry level gear until level 11. Then you can buy a Featherlight 215, 15mm braid and an Espira Slim 2500- with a flourocarbon leader- this is your weapon to fight all fish at Colorado and grind money and xp with trout. will be much more efficient than all those Pike and Zander, as you can catch a ton of it way more faster. as soon as you can buy the jigwinner switch to it and go to falcon lake - tons of trout, tons of xp are wating for you there..

I do for sure agree with the sentiment of this post, namely that Trout are the way to go. And furthermore, your point about Oregon is a very valid one, particularly because in Oregon, you can Farm Trout and also work on the Smallmouth Bass. It's the first "combo" Lake with multiple legitimate target families of Fish.

I do still like Emerald Lake, even now, just because the Walleyes are so reliable and mindless to catch once you're at that Level.

Your point on the low-level Missions is spot-on, the extra gear and cash is indeed worth it.

[GTAngler]

Originally posted by Lindenmooch:

early game dont ever go to mudwater. it sucks. emerald is meh. north carolina is great early/mid game when you can get bass equipment. white moose lake is a damn treasure lake. go there as soon as you can. the salmon and trout will definitely fight you until you can get better equipment. i am level 40 and still love that spot. and trophy lake trout still fight me with 30lb line. but trust me, as soon as you can get to white moose, go there. there are pike there that are worth a ton of money, and salmon and trout. i've been to every north american location you can go to at level 40, and white moose is by far and away the best fishing spot.

1- Agree wholeheartedly that Alberta is a cash cow. It's a little down the road for the early stages of a guide like this, but you're right that it's super efficient and full of fish.

2- I think your take on New York and North Carolina is probably dependent on the player and that player's style/interests. Personally, I think New York is a cash farm for a long time in FP, and most players could probably rack up all the resources they need for Oregon/Florida/Alberta, maybe include Louisiana if you like that one, all from New York. North Carolina ---- I hated it at first, but it's grown on me and I go back there every so often now, albeit with a very ratched-down setup. It's where I learned the finer points on frogs and crankbaits, and also one of the first places where it's really viable to bottom fish and lure fish simultaneously.

[GTAngler]

Section Four:

The Mid-Level Transitions

I continue this guide with the same basic assumptions and parameters:

1- I'm playing in XBox in Spring 2020.
2- I am espousing a "Trout Route" Method of progressing into the mid-levels of Fishing Planet.
3- You might enjoy Missouri and North Carolina, as River Fishing that features Bass, and certainly that's a choice that many players make.
4- At the same time, I think that a fundamental base track of "Colorado >>> Oregon >>> Alberta" is the most profitable and consistent track all the way from Level 10 to about Level 30, and frankly maybe even beyond that.

Now, let's talk for a minute about where we left off, namely with a setup that was appropriate for taking every living thing out of Colorado. The Trophy and Unique catches in Colorado are, at least in my experience, topping out at 2-2.5 Kg. Colorado Goldens are a little smaller, and Rainbows tend to top out here around 2.5 Kg, generally speaking.

I mention this because honestly, you do not need to do any upgrading of gear while you're learning Colorado. At least not on the Lure Fishing side. The rod/reel Combo that was mentioned, along with a #1/0 Narrow Spoon (Or Medium Spoon) will do fine.

However.............and this is key. The best Trout farm in Colorado relates to Float Fishing.

Take the Nero 330 + Callisto MG3000 Combo from earlier, and equip it with a bobber (I like the teal ones, but any will do), and a #4 Hook. Not more hook, not less. #4. Then, head to the "Trout Galore" launch point. Walk up to the right, so that you're facing the lake and turn toward the little section of rocks. Throw your line into the middle of the rocky area, with Artificial Eggs on the line as bait. Mayflies or Small Minnows will work too, but Artificial Salmon Eggs (Or Natural Eggs if you're Level 15), are the absolute bee's knees for this setup.

Float Setup + #4 Hook + Artificial or Natural Eggs @ Trout Galore Rocks = a never-ending cash pond for the Trout Route.

Enjoy!!