Fish escaped with your bait

[DeltaDude2016]

How do I increase my chances of actually catching fish? ive been fishing for almost 30 minutes and i have only 5 fish. i started with 35 entrails as bait but lost most of it, what gives?

[Miss_Min]

Change something about your setup. At any given place and time, each setup gives you three different fish*. Sometimes, one of those fish will always steal your bait. So either try the same hook and line somewhere else, or use a different hook or line. Or a different bait.

[* Or at least that's how it has worked in some previous worlds, there is of course always the possibility that something has changed. And this does not include the possibility of catching 'trash' which happens to be a fish, because that can be very confusing for stats. The game will also automatically pull leeches off you to use as bait, which can also be confusing.]

[Audiosmurf]

Just go to a different spot. Fishing "density" nodes are really stupidly swingy, so "a different spot" can be like 10 feet away.

Edit: I also have this theory that fishing while standing in the water at some point started adding a penalty to catch rate

[fickleimpala]

Change something about your setup. At any given place and time, each setup gives you three different fish*. Sometimes, one of those fish will always steal your bait. So either try the same hook and line somewhere else, or use a different hook or line. Or a different bait.
[* Or at least that's how it has worked in some previous worlds, there is of course always the possibility that something has changed. And this does not include the possibility of catching 'trash' which happens to be a fish, because that can be very confusing for stats. The game will also automatically pull leeches off you to use as bait, which can also be confusing.]

I would presume that you know about cave-ins and how to avoid them? Otherwise it might be a very bad idea

[SlicingTheMoon]

Mass-produce rope and make fishing nets, you get fish every 3 days as long no-one touches them. If you have a good spot for cattails, build a ropewalk close by it and just make a bunch. They respawn every 20 mins or so.

I know it is not what you asked, but it is an alternative method of getting fish.

[joojoo1975]

How do I increase my chances of actually catching fish? ive been fishing for almost 30 minutes and i have only 5 fish. i started with 35 entrails as bait but lost most of it, what gives?

first off what are the Q of your gear?

what is the Q of your Bait?

what I did, is have loads of Entrails and 4 reels and 4 hooks.

I then put on youtube(a documentary or something else i am interested in) and then listen to that while i watch my char fishes.

But i get more fish as my quality goes up on the gear and bait