Iridium Rod
| Iridium Rod | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Tool |
| Sold By | Fish Shop |
| Cost | 7500g |
| Previous Tier | Fiberglass Rod |
| Next Tier | Advanced Iridium Rod |
| Improvements | Ability to use bait and tackle |
The Iridium Rod is the rod that lets an angler bend the rules. It keeps the bait slot and adds a tackle slot, and tackle is where fishing stops being a test of reflexes and starts being a matter of setup. A Trap Bobber slows the slipping bar, a Cork Bobber makes it longer, a Treasure Hunter pulls more chests out of the water and a Curiosity Lure tilts the odds towards the rare catches. Willy stocks it once Fishing reaches level six, and it is a straight purchase rather than anything the Blacksmith touches. For most of a save it is the rod that does the work, and it is widely called the best one available.
Use
A visit to the Fish Shop after Fishing level six is all it takes, and a letter arrives the day after it appears on the shelf. The previous rod stays in the bag, so nothing is traded in.
Bait goes into one slot and tackle into the other, both attached from the inventory. The bait keeps bites coming quickly, while the tackle changes how the catch itself plays out.
Choosing tackle is about naming the problem. A long wait between bites calls for a Spinner or a Dressed Spinner. A fish that keeps slipping away calls for a Trap Bobber, which slows the escape, or a Barbed Hook, which makes the fish cling to the bar. A bar that is simply too small calls for a Cork Bobber. A Treasure Hunter both raises the chance of a chest and stops the fish escaping while the chest is being collected, which is the tackle for a gold run. A Curiosity Lure skews the catch towards the uncommon fish.
Tackle wears out rather than lasting forever. A piece in the slot loses durability as it fishes and eventually breaks, so the remaining wear is worth a glance before setting out. Carrying a spare on a long trip avoids ending the afternoon with an empty slot.
Casting still costs energy, and every Fishing level makes the cast cheaper. Level six is already comfortable, so a full day on the water is realistic with a cooked meal in the bag.
Upgrades
There is one rod above this. Claiming Fishing Mastery hands over an Advanced Iridium Rod, which carries two tackles at once, and Willy sells further copies after that unlock. Two tackles stack, so a Trap Bobber paired with a Cork Bobber slows the fish and widens the bar at the same time.
Mastery is a long way off, needing level ten in every skill before the bar even starts, so the Iridium Rod is the end of the practical road for most of a save.
An enchantment can be put on the rod at the Forge in exchange for a Prismatic Shard and twenty Cinder Shards, and the result is picked at random. Preserving is the standout here, giving both bait and tackle an even chance of surviving each use, which halves the running cost of a tackle-heavy setup. Master adds a Fishing level while the rod is held, Auto-Hook sets the line the instant something bites, and Efficient removes the energy cost of casting.
Notes
A pair of Lucky Purple Shorts placed in the tackle slot changes the bobber to a unique Lucky Purple Shorts bobber. The trimmed version of the shorts does not do it.
Tackle does not replace knowing the water. A fish still only appears in its own season, weather and hours, so the Curiosity Lure improves odds within what is already available rather than conjuring something new.
Fishing rods can be dropped or binned, which makes them unusual among tools, so the Iridium Rod is worth parking in a chest before a dangerous trip.
The Fiberglass Rod is worth keeping once this one is bought. A second baited rod costs nothing to store and saves swapping tackle when a trip switches from the river to the sea.
All Fishing Rods
Every entry in this group, with its key details.
| Name | Image | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Iridium Rod | 
|
25000g |
| Bamboo Pole | 
|
500g |
| Fiberglass Rod | 
|
1800g |
| Iridium Rod | 
|
7500g |
| Training Rod | 
|
25g |