DREADMOOR Fishing Guide – Stamina, Line Tension & Bait Explained

DREADMOOR's fishing is a first-person fight. You read the water, choose the lure, keep the rod still for a peaceful bite, then pull against a fish that wants the line back. This guide covers the whole loop — browse the fish list for per-species data and the bait database for recipes.

The Six-Step Fishing Loop

1. Interact with the spot. The prompt opens the tackle screen and shows which fish are active there.
2. Choose rod and bait. The Simple Rod finishes the opening contracts; bait is the part that matters.
3. Cast into the zone. Aim at the active water — for predators, inside the splash zone.
4. Wait or retrieve. Peaceful fish need a still rod; predators need a moving lure.
5. Fight stamina and tension. Pull opposite the fish, reel when it tires, ease off when the line strains.
6. Land and keep. Use the Land Fish prompt when the fish is close — and keep contract fish whole.

Stamina: Tiring a Fish Without Losing It

A hooked fish swims against the rod. Pull in the opposite direction to drain its Stamina; if it changes direction, change with it. When Stamina hits zero the fish is exhausted but not caught — you still have to bring it in, and it can recover during the retrieval. For reference, a class 3 Snapper has 100 stamina, a class 3 Softgrazer 110, and a class 3 Sharpfin 120.

Line Tension: Why Lines Snap

Line Tension is the strain meter. Reeling against an actively fighting fish raises it; so does letting a fish run far from the boat. At maximum, the line snaps. The dangerous moment is usually the final retrieval — the fish looks close and makes one more run. Ease off, let it take line, then resume. Losing a metre is cheaper than losing the catch. A Braided Line upgrade gives more margin but not immunity.

Bait by Temperament

Bait is a category, not a flavour. Using the wrong category usually means no bite at all.

Bait	Type	Best for	Recipe
Earthworm	Universal	Snapper only	Starting bait
Wind-Up Tin	Peaceful	Softgrazer contract	1× Metal Plate + 1× Fish Meat
Sturdy Earcrawler	Peaceful	Trophy peaceful fish	1× Metal Plate + 1× Battery + 1× Thermo Coil + 1× Chromatic Scales
Rainbow Fin	Predatory	Harpooner contract	1× Fish Meat + 1× Metal Plate + 1× Chromatic Scales
Flaming Belly	Predatory	Trophy predators	1× Fish Meat + 1× Jaws + 1× Metal Plate + 1× Lily
Pipecross	Predatory	Bonescar, Bully, Rammfish, Stonegnawer	No workbench recipe
Deadly Tick	Predatory	Same narrow group	1× Sharpfin Flesh + 1× Circuit Board + 2× Sturdy Metal + 1× Cable

Predator Fishing: The Splash Zone

Predators do not take a stationary bait. Look for disturbed water — the splash zone — cast inside it, and start retrieving immediately. Keep a steady pace: reel too fast and the predator cannot catch the lure; leave it still and it loses interest. If a fish follows and turns away, recast with a different pace rather than swapping bait.

The Three Contract Catches

• Five Snappers — Simple Rod and Earthworm at the platform behind the Dry Dock. The tutorial fight.
• Three Softgrazers — Wind-Up Tin at the marked peaceful spot. Deep stamina pool; keep all three whole for the Thresher, which turns them into Chromatic Scales.
• Three Harpooners — Rainbow Fin in a splash zone. Delivery unlocks the Carburetor purchase at Betsy and Sons — you still have to open the shop and buy it for 50.

Gear Upgrades: What to Craft First

Upgrade	What it changes	Priority
Braided Line	Stronger line, fewer break-offs	High
Reinforced Rod	Tires fish faster	Medium
Baitcasting Reel	Faster line recovery	Medium
Sturdy Earcrawler	Peaceful trophy chance	Optional
Flaming Belly	Predator trophy chance	Optional

The Simple Rod can finish the demo — upgrades make fights forgiving, not possible. Fix input habits before spending materials.

Processing: Grinder, Thresher and Fuel Larva

Three machines turn a catch into supplies: the Grinder makes Fish Meat for bait and fuel, the Thresher processes peaceful fish like Softgrazer into Chromatic Scales, and the Fuel Larva eats Fish Meat and produces fuel, which you transfer to the boat with the Fuel Gun. Producing fuel and filling the tank are separate actions — check the tank before every long trip.