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Introduction

A fishing pole must be equipped in your main hand to catch fish. Only one pole may be equipped at a time.

Most fishing poles give bonuses to fishing skill: While the pole is equipped, your effective fishing skill will be increased by the bonus. So if you skill is 100, and you equip a Big Iron Fishing Pole with +20 bonus, your effective fishing skill will be 120. Bonuses from poles stack with bonuses from other Fishing Gear and Lures.

Poles are held like weapons, and can be used in combat. They cannot be enchanted (except with lines), and using them will not raise combat skills (such as "unarmed"). For discussion about how fishing skill influences effective weapon skill and critical chance rate, read this.

This table summarises fishing statistics for all poles. Further details of each pole are listed below by skill bonus.

Fishing Poles
Fishing PoleSkill BonusMinimum Fishing SkillMinimum Level**Source
Fishing Pole-1-Vendor
Blump Family Fishing Pole+31(10)Alliance-only quest
Strong Fishing Pole+510-Vendor
Darkwood Fishing Pole+1550-Fishing
Big Iron Fishing Pole+20100-Shellfish Traps in Desolace
Seth's Graphite Fishing Pole+20200(62)Quest
Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000+20100(44)Horde-only quest
Nat's Lucky Fishing Pole+25225(35)Quest
Bone Fishing Pole+3030070Northrend Daily
Jeweled Fishing Pole+3030070Northrend Daily
Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole+30300(68)Kalu'ak (Tuskarr) Exalted
Arcanite Fishing Pole+40300-Stranglethorn Extravaganza

** The minimum level in brackets is the level to complete the quests, and gain the pole.

There are three "fishing poles" which cannot be used to fish, and are not described here:

Fishing Pole

Fishing Pole..
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 1
  • Source: Vendor (Trade and Fishing Suppliers)

Basic Fishing Poles are sold by most Trade Suppliers and all Fishing Suppliers for around 4 copper. Completing the Draenai quest "Red Snapper - Very Tasty!" also rewards you with this pole. The basic Fishing Pole gives no bonus to fishing skill - it just catches fish.

Blump Family Fishing Pole

Gubber Blump
Blump Family Fishing Pole..

The Blump Family Fishing Pole is the reward from alliance-only quest "The Family and the Fishing Pole", from Gubber Blump, found on Auberdine beach in Darkshore. The quest requires you to fish 6 Darkshore Grouper, which can be caught off the coast of Darkshore. The pole is bound to you, so there is no way for Horde to gain it (not that they should want to).

Strong Fishing Pole

Children Fishing in Redridge
Strong Fishing Pole..
  • Skill bonus: +5
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 10
  • Source: Vendor (Fishing Suppliers) in limited quantities

The Strong Fishing Pole is a limited supply item from fishing suppliers, but most carry one. Costs around 9s 2c.

Darkwood Fishing Pole

Darkwood Fishing Pole
  • Skill bonus: +15
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 50
  • Source: Fishing (see below)

Originally the Darkwood Fishing Pole was very (very) rarely carried by Nightbane Worgen in Duskwood (thanks Ernest Santos) or Bloodsnout Worgs in Silverpine Forest. For most anglers, the Darkwood Fishing Pole was legendary: Only a handful of people had ever seen it. The pole has since been found as a catch from fishing. It is known to be very rarely caught from inland open water in Ashenvale, Duskwood, Hillsbrad Foothills, Redridge Mountains, Stonetalon Mountains, and Wetlands. If you know of other locations, please let us know!

Big Iron Fishing Pole

Big Iron Fishing Pole..
  • Skill bonus: +20
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 100
  • Source: Rarely from Shellfish Traps in Desolace (see below)

The Big Iron Fishing Pole is rarely found in the Shellfish Traps on the floor of the ocean off the coast of Desolace, in the bay immediately south-west of Shadowprey Village. ((For those that use co-ordinates, around 20,80.))

Swim round opening all the traps you can find until one contains the pole. You are not looking for one particular trap - there is a chance of about 1 in 100 of any one trap containing a pole. Those odds are very variable - you may need to investigate hundreds of traps before finding a pole. The Shellfish found in most of the traps are for the Horde-only quest "Fish in a Bucket". Some of the traps contain a single (level 34+) monster, which you need to be able to fight. I recommend that you use underwater breathing potions, enlist the help of a special mage (I prefer that term to "warlock") or Shaman who can cast underwater breathing, or acquire an item that allows you to breath underwater. Fin notes, "you can actually stay underwater by positioning yourself over one of the scattered bubble points ((which resets your Breath meter))." This will remove the need to return to the surface after investigating each trap, saving a lot of time.

The Big Iron Fishing Pole is the highest bonus pole not to be bound to its finder: It can be traded.

Seth's Graphite Fishing Pole

Seth
Seth's Graphite Fishing Pole..
  • Skill bonus: +20
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 200
  • Source: Level 62+ quest (Rather Be Fishin')
  • Also gives +52 Stamina

Reward for quest "Rather Be Fishin'" from Seth in refuge area of Shattrath City. The Pristine Shimmerscale Eels required for the quest can't be caught - they are dropped by the Shimmerscale Eels in Silmyr Lake.

Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000

Katoom the Angler
Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000..
  • Skill bonus: +20
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 100
  • Source: Level 44+ Horde-only quest (Snapjaws, Mon!)

Reward for the Horde-only quest "Snapjaws, Mon!", from Katoom the Angler, in Revantusk Village, The Hinterlands. The quest requires you to kill 15 Saltwater Snapjaws, which can be found along the coast of the Hinterlands. The pole is bound to its new owner, so there is no way for Alliance to gain it.

Nat's Lucky Fishing Pole

Nat Pagle
Nat's Lucky Fishing Pole..
  • Skill bonus: +25
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 225
  • Source: Level 35+, fishing skill 225+ quest (Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme)

Reward for the quest, "Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme" (formerly the Artisan rank quest). The pole is bound to the angler, so cannot be traded. Anglers that completed the original Artisan rank quest before patch 3.1 can return to Nat Pagle (in Dustwallow Marsh) to claim the new pole. For a full walkthrough, read Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme.

Bone Fishing Pole

Bone Fishing Pole..
  • Skill bonus: +30
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 300
  • Source: Northrend Daily Fishing Quests (Bag of Fishing Treasures)
  • Requires level 70. Also grants +40 Shadow Resistance.

Rarely found in Bag of Fishing Treasures, the reward from the Northrend Daily Fishing Quests, which start in Dalaran. The pole is bound when found, so cannot be traded. The pole has a skull-like handle and shark-fin style rod. Full guide to Northrend daily quests.

Jeweled Fishing Pole

Jeweled Fishing Pole
Jeweled Fishing Pole..
  • Skill bonus: +30
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 300
  • Source: Northrend Daily Fishing Quests (Bag of Fishing Treasures)
  • Requires level 70. "A Tiffany Cartier original."

Also rarely found in Bag of Fishing Treasures from Northrend Daily Fishing Quests. This pole sparkles (illustrated left)! The pole is bound when found, so cannot be traded. Full guide to Northrend daily quests.

Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole

Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole
Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole..
  • Skill bonus: +30
  • Minimum fishing skill required: 300
  • Source: Kalu'ak (Tuskarr) Exalted reputation
  • Also grants underwater breathing.

Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole can be purchased from quartermaster Tanaika (in the Tuskarr village of Kamagua, in the Howling Fjord) or Sairuk (in Moa'ki Harbor, Dragonblight). You must have Exalted reputation with the Kalu'ak faction. The pole costs about 100 gold (including reputation price reduction). Revered reputation can be reached by completing regular quests in the 3 zones where the Kalu'ak are based (Borean Tundra, Dragonblight and Howling Fjord). Daily quests can then be completed for 500 reputation each. Known quest lines are:

Each daily quest takes less than 5 minutes to complete. If you have finished all the regular quests (and reached Revered), it will take about 2 weeks to reach Exalted by doing daily quests.

The Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole is the most reliable higher-bonus pole to gain: The reward is not random, like the Bone Fishing Pole or Jeweled Fishing Pole.

Arcanite Fishing Pole

Arcanite Fishing Pole..

One of two possible rewards for winning the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza. The pole is bound to the winner, so you will not find this for sale at the Auction House. ((Arcanite Fishing Pole gave a +35 bonus until patch 3.1.))

Poles are not the only item of gear that gives a bonus to fishing skill while equipped.

Learn More

Comments about Fishing Poles

Below are readers' comments about "Fishing Poles":

3.1 NEW FISHING POLES!

  1. TheTacoMan, February 2009:

    Someone data trawling on MMO-champion found these beauties!:

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Grim666/Fishingpolemace.png

    They look pretty cool, perhaps some new, unique fishing poles. Achievement awards maybe? Speculate away!

  2. el, February 2009:

    Thanks TacoMan. I'm aware of these, but still looking for any information about their source. Oh. I should add that the picture shows 2 out of the 3 files listed as fishing poles. The third is more of a twig.

  3. TheTacoMan, February 2009:

    I'm aware of that, i just lifted the picture as it was posted.

    The first one looks dated, it looks like the kind of fishing pole Kael would use... or at least another blood elf. The second one is undead - KT's fishing rod?

    AH! I've just had a second thought. The new 'argent tournament' world event features you fighting for specific home cities. Perhaps these fishing rods are rewards for fighting for silvermoon city and undercity respectively?

  1. el, February 2009:

    Image of all 3 poles.

  2. NiceBloke, February 2009:

    Man, my Undead Priest *needs* that bone rod.

    That's one worth grinding for.

  3. TheTacoMan, February 2009:

    The new bobbers look great! Perhaps this is all part of a customizable fishing rod? I can just see it now, my undead warlock, looking evil as ever with his 5/5 plagueheart, even his fishing rod is an evil bone rod, and for his bobber... a RUBBER DUCKY!

  4. Adys, March 2009:

    Found this on the PTR

    http://devcub.com/~adys/natpole.jpg

    I don't know where it comes from.

  5. el, March 2009:

    Thanks Adys. It's a reward for "Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme", the artisan fishing quest. If you have already completed the quest, you can visit Nat and he will simply give you the pole. It is a standard pole design, not one of the new poles.

  6. TheTacoMan, March 2009:

    Good to see that its still not as good as the Mastercraft Kalulk, or the Arcanite rod, but it is +5 better than seth's graphite pole, and on par with the the FC-5000, which should FINALLY shut up all the alliance players whining that horde get a better fishing pole for minimal effort :P.

    Still no word on the new pole designs, maybe they are for all new northrend fishing quests? Maybe nat himself has moved up to northrend!

  7. Petre, March 2009:

    TheTacoMan wrote:

    Maybe nat himself has moved up to northrend!

    While Nat Pagle probably couldn't care less about the whole Lich King / undead thing... But I wouldn't put it past him to defeat the Lich king by completely depriving him of those wonderful Deep Sea Monsterbelly filets.

  8. TheTacoMan, March 2009:

    Petre wrote:

    TheTacoMan wrote:

    Maybe nat himself has moved up to northrend!

    While Nat Pagle probably couldn't care less about the whole Lich King / undead thing... But I wouldn't put it past him to defeat the Lich king by completely depriving him of those wonderful Deep Sea Monsterbelly filets.

    Nat DID accurately predict the rise of the scourge and the fall of arthas years before it happened, maybe someone at the argent dawn wanted to acquire his 'skills' :P

  9. Durth, March 2009:

    Do you have to have WotLK installed or something? I never got the nat pole when finishing the artisan quest and I just went back to check and he had nothing new to say.

  10. el, March 2009:

    This is currently only on the public test realm. Not yet live.

  11. Shimarenda, March 2009:

    TheTacoMan wrote:

    Good to see that its still not as good as the Mastercraft Kalulk, or the Arcanite rod, but it is +5 better than seth's graphite pole, and on par with the the FC-5000, which should FINALLY shut up all the alliance players whining that horde get a better fishing pole for minimal effort :P.

    Yes, and they should be sure to bring their Alliance-only Sprite Darter Hatchling pets with them when they pick up the new pole.

  12. TheTacoMan, March 2009:

    not to mention that alliance only quest item that turns you into a furbolg :P

  13. Pinkyinkydoo, March 2009:

    I too went to see Pat Nagle for my +25 fishing pole because I still have my Iron Fishing pole and he gave me nothing..............:(

  14. Petre, March 2009:

    Pinkyinkydoo wrote:

    I too went to see Pat Nagle for my +25 fishing pole because I still have my Iron Fishing pole and he gave me nothing..............:(

    Was this on the PTR? Because currently these are only available on the Test Realms.

  15. Pinkyinkydoo, March 2009:

    No it was just on a regular PvE server

  16. Shimarenda, March 2009:

    Shimarenda wrote:

    TheTacoMan wrote:

    Good to see that its still not as good as the Mastercraft Kalulk, or the Arcanite rod, but it is +5 better than seth's graphite pole, and on par with the the FC-5000, which should FINALLY shut up all the alliance players whining that horde get a better fishing pole for minimal effort :P.

    Yes, and they should be sure to bring their Alliance-only Sprite Darter Hatchling pets with them when they pick up the new pole.

    I stand corrected by the latest news from Warcraftpets.com regarding patch 3.1:

    "Sprite Darter Eggs: May now (very rarely) drop from Sprite Darters in Feralas. Note that only Horde characters can attack and kill Sprite Darters."

  17. HenshinAGoGo, March 2009:

    Since my post isn't showing up in the other thread, I shall post this here...

    I just did the Dangerously Delicious daily and got a new fishing rod out of it: the Jeweled Fishing Pole. It's ugly, but certainly unique!

    Pics!
    Stats!
    Closeup of the gem!
    Fishing with it!

    It vendors for 9 copper. The wings, unfortunately, don't do anything special and are stationary.

  18. 9 more comments. Continue reading or reply »

Epic fishing pole

  1. Melchizedek, September 2008:

    Firstly i want to say hi, this is my first time posting, although i've been a frequent visiter for some time, especially recently with all the WotLK info coming out.

    I;'ve just visited MMO-Champion and found soemthing of interest for my fellow fishers, it seems that the Kalu'ak faction has a an epic fishing pole as a reputation award for exhalted the link to it is here
    http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/images/news/2008/september/8962/tk_4_01.jpg

    Keep up the good work.

  2. el, September 2008:

    Thanks Melchizedek.

    Like everyone else in Europe, I'm waiting to get online to see these. MMO-Champion is data mining, and not everything data mined actually appears in the game!

    The pole was known about for some time, and we could probably guess Tuskarr rep. I presume there is a rep grind of some kind - beta El reached Revered on quests, but I didn't see a way to go higher.

    If correct, the +30 skill looks like a good compromise: The contest still gives the best pole (at +35), but this is better than the +20/+25 from quests.

  3. Oberweiss, September 2008:

    Yeah, it was kind of silly that the +25 fishing pole was exclusive to Horde. I'm glad casual Alliance fishers aren't stuck using +20 poles.

  1. Gummo, September 2008:

    Is getting this pole likely to be added to the "Salty" title requirement?

  2. el, September 2008:

    There's no achievement directly involving the pole. There is "Tuskarrmageddon" for reaching exalted with Kalu'ak (no baby seals involved), but that's not related to any of the fishing achievements.

  3. Zahana, September 2008:

    I hope it's not part of the fishing achievements, since the "epic" fishing pole is still not as good for fishing as the one from the Extravaganza.

  4. Gummo, September 2008:

    It would also make sense that getting this pole would NOT be a fishing achievement nor part of getting the "Salty" title, because getting it doesn't really involve fishing (unless there are some mandatory fishing parts in unavoidable chain quests, which there might be).

  5. Hy, September 2008:

    Well, I'm pleased that it isn't better than the contest pole. I'm willing to overlook the "zomg shiny purplez!" aspect of it. Water breathing is nice, but one cannot fish while swimming.

  6. Gummo, September 2008:

    It's possible to fish while swimming, barely:
    1) mount up
    2) ride out just to deeper water
    3) immediately cast before you are auto-dismounted from the water

    You can end up treading water while still having your line out, because you were out of the water during the cast.

  7. Hy, September 2008:

    I've done that, but it hardly leaves one in danger of drowning.

  8. Oberweiss, September 2008:

    Gummo wrote:

    It's possible to fish while swimming, barely:
    1) mount up
    2) ride out just to deeper water
    3) immediately cast before you are auto-dismounted from the water
    You can end up treading water while still having your line out, because you were out of the water during the cast.

    Haha, I never knew that. Then again, I primarily fish on a tall female tauren, so I can't say I've ever needed to.

  9. Idoru, September 2008:

    el wrote:

    The pole was known about for some time, and we could probably guess Tuskarr rep. I presume there is a rep grind of some kind - beta El reached Revered on quests, but I didn't see a way to go higher.

    Doesn't the daily quest give reputation past revered?

    Only half-way through honored so far, so dying to know ... : )

  10. el, September 2008:

    Yes, Idoru - dailies give 500 rep each at revered. They were only added in the last week, and aren't all using the correct icons yet. So far I've found these available at revered:

    Please add any others you've spotted, with your reputation level at the time.

  11. Idoru, September 2008:

    Just hit Revered this morning, but while I was Honored, I could get Planning for the Future and The Way to His Heart

    Haven't been near Kaskala for a while though, so I have missed that quest.

    Btw, The Way to His Heart .... really cute quest : )

  12. Roddamv, March 2009:

    Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole has an additional stat for Druids who fish:
    +1844 attack power.

  13. Reply to this topic »

Poles from Dalaran Daily

  1. Lilitheen, July 2010:

    Anybody know if the Bone pole and the Jeweled pole can be gotten more than once?
    I feel like a noob...I had both of them and in a total fit of stupidity sold them to get gold I needed for a new pc. of armor. In retrospect I certainly wouldn't do it again. Anyway I'm hoping I can get them again.

  2. Xellros, July 2010:

    I've never seen them drop more than once... O.o And I do the daily every day. (I'm hunting Fishing lines)

  3. Aradiel, July 2010:

    They could be like the hat, once you get it, you don't get them again. I'd open a ticket and see if you can get them back. For the sake of 35g, you must have had something else to sell.

    If you want the +5 line you're better off fishing in STV during the comp.

  1. Lilitheen, July 2010:

    Hmm...I'd sear though that I have gotten the hat at least twice.

  2. Druegar, July 2010:

    I've received no less than three Weather-Beaten Fishing Hats. They are not Unique.

    Both the Jeweled Fishing Pole and the Bone Fishing Pole are Unique, so you will never be able to posses more than one at a time.

  3. Hoddie, July 2010:

    I've had them both a few times. I remember selling one of them for 1c and noticing that they'd fixed the vendor price the next time I received it. Though as Druegar says, you can't have more than one each at any time obviously.

  4. Xellros, July 2010:

    I would, but as it seems, my job gets in the way of serious fishing for the derbies. I'd have to log my character out in the position I wanted to be in, then race home for lunch just to fish for like 7 minutes on the Kalu ak one, then the close 15 minutes on the STV one. Actually hunting for a fish is going to be very difficult. (Took about 4 months to win both contests. I was only able to get My boots of the bay from kalu ak, after I maxed Engineering, it allowed for fast location switching.)

  5. Lilitheen, July 2010:

    Answered my own question this morning...I got the Jeweled pole again. Needless to say I was very pleased. Now for the Bone...

    Never to be sold again will either of them be...I was such a noob...to place raiding gear above fishing gear...what a fool.

  6. heraklen, July 2010:

    Aradiel wrote:

    They could be like the hat, once you get it, you don't get them again. I'd open a ticket and see if you can get them back. For the sake of 35g, you must have had something else to sell.
    If you want the +5 line you're better off fishing in STV during the comp.

    I was pretty chocked that you can get the +5 line from the fishing daily! , wasnt aware I could get it from anything but the stranglethorn contest.

  7. Reply to this topic »

Legendary Fishing Pole?!?

  1. Pigeon, April 2009:

    http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=43651

  2. Gizel, April 2009:

    Let me properly say this:

    GIEF!

  3. el, April 2009:

    Crafty's Pole
    Binds when picked up
    Unique
    Fishing Pole
    Two Hand
    447-672 Dmg
    Speed 3.00
    (186.5 damage per second)
    Durability: 0 / 95
    Requires Fishing 1
    Equip: Increased Fishing +1000.
    "Just holding this fishing pole makes you shiver with excitement. This is possibly the most amazing thing you've ever seen."

    I should add that with those stats, it must be a test item (that should never have appeared in the armory).

  1. el, April 2009:

    Some other items that probably shouldn't be in the armory, but are:

  2. anakhahawk, April 2009:

    Overkill !
    +1000 to fishing .......... awesome :)

  3. Millay, May 2009:

    Where is it found??

  4. Reply to this topic »

Crafty's Pole

  1. Swen, April 2009:

    A legendary fishing pole has appeared on the armory.

    http://www.wowarmory.com/item-info.xml?i=43651

    Crafty's Pole
    Binds when picked up
    Unique
    Fishing Pole Two Hand
    447-672 Dmg Speed 3.00
    (186.5 damage per second)
    Durability: 0 / 95
    Requires Fishing 1
    Equip: Increased Fishing +1000.
    "Just holding this fishing pole makes you shiver with excitement. This is possibly the most amazing thing you've ever seen."

  2. Ysgarth, April 2009:

    Very interesting find. I also found it on the european armory. I did not, however, find it on wowhead, which i believe datamines items from the game. So it's possible that this item is not in game (yet).

  3. el, April 2009:

    Previous topics... Basically it looks like a test item, that shouldn't have been imported into the armory.

  4. Thalen, April 2009:

    The fact that it has enough +fishing to get you thorugh the next 5 expansions without having to skill up at all should tell you that this is not goign to happen.

  5. Reply to this topic »

Changes in 3.1 to Seth's fishing pole?

  1. UABMaddog, March 2009:

    I have a question for someone in the know.

    If we can get a +25 pole from Nat and the fishing quest (Alliance), what happens to Seth and his pole? Will it be bumped up to +30 or dropped......

  2. el, March 2009:

    Seth's Pole remains +20. I can only assume the quest remains. Seth's quest required less effort than Nat Pagle's quest, so only +20 makes sense.

  3. Cherel, March 2009:

    Seth's fishing pole only made sense to Alliance so you could hand down one of your Big Iron fishing poles to an alt, or if you were too lazy to farm one.

    I'm rather proud of my Big Iron fishing poles. It's a pity there's not an achievement for finding one of them. Now they'll only be useful for level 25-35, if that. :-(

    Hmm, in 3.1, can you complete Nat's fishing quest below level 35? It ought to be doable if you're willing to die a few times getting to the fishing spots.

  4. Reply to this topic »

Fishing poles

  1. Healion, November 2008:

    Can see that they are going to add an epic fishing pole in Wotlk, thou it isnt better then the one you get as reword in the competition. Does anyone know if they are going to add a pole that is better then the one from the competition?

  2. Ygrish, November 2008:

    nope, not likely...
    and only if the Arcanite Fishing Pole got buffed

  3. Reply to this topic »
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