You're standing on the edge of a massive, pixelated ocean. The sun is setting, your hunger bar is shaking, and you realize you forgot to bring bread. Honestly, we've all been there. Knowing how do I make a fishing pole in Minecraft isn't just about getting a tool; it’s about survival, especially when you're starting a new world and the cows are nowhere to be found.
Fishing is weirdly overpowered. Most players think it's just for cod or salmon, but if you're patient, it’s basically a loot box system that doesn't cost real money. You can pull out enchanted books, name tags, and even saddles.
The basic recipe for your first rod
You need two things. Sticks and string. That's it.
To get specific, you're looking for three sticks and two pieces of string. If you’ve played for more than five minutes, you probably have the sticks. Punch a tree, turn the logs into planks, turn the planks into sticks. Simple. The string is the annoying part. You have to hunt spiders at night or find a cave where you can whack cobwebs with a sword.
Once you have the goods, open your crafting table. You need to place the sticks in a diagonal line. Think of it like a staircase climbing from the bottom-left to the top-right. Then, place the two strings hanging down from the top-right stick.
It looks like a fishing pole even in the grid.
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Where people mess up the crafting
Some players try to put the string in the middle. Don't. It has to be on the far right side, occupying the middle-right and bottom-right slots, while the sticks take up the diagonal slope. If you’re playing on Bedrock Edition or Java, the recipe is identical. There’s no platform-specific drama here, which is a relief because Minecraft usually loves to change small details between versions.
Finding string without dying
If you're in Hardcore mode, hunting spiders is a bad idea. One wrong move and a Creeper ends your run.
Instead, look for a village. Sometimes fletcher villagers have string, or you can find it in chests inside desert temples. If you’re lucky enough to find a mineshaft, use your sword to harvest the cobwebs. It’s much safer than fighting a spider that has a literal speed potion effect.
Also, cats. If you have a cat, they sometimes bring you "gifts" when you wake up in the morning. Sometimes it's a chicken feather. Sometimes it's string. It’s a bit morbid, but hey, it's free.
Using the rod correctly
Making it is one thing. Using it without wasting your durability is another.
Right-click (or use your secondary action button) to cast the line. You'll see a little bobber floating in the water. Now, you wait. You’ll see little splashes moving toward your bobber. That’s the "fish" approaching. The second that bobber dips underwater, right-click again.
Timing is everything.
If you're too slow, the fish gets away and you've wasted time. If you're too fast, you reel in nothing. You want to see that distinct "thunk" animation where the bobber actually goes below the surface.
Making your rod actually good (Enchantments)
A basic fishing pole is "kinda" garbage. It’s slow.
If you want the good stuff—the Mending books, the bows, the nautilus shells—you need to visit an enchantment table or find some enchanted books. There are four main enchantments you should care about.
- Lure: This reduces the wait time for a bite. Level III is the dream. It turns fishing from a chore into a rapid-fire loot farm.
- Luck of the Sea: This increases your chances of getting "treasure" instead of "junk" or "fish."
- Unbreaking: Standard stuff. Makes the rod last longer.
- Mending: The holy grail.
If you have Mending on a fishing rod, it basically becomes infinite. Since fishing gives you small amounts of XP, that XP automatically repairs the rod while you’re using it. You will never have to craft another one.
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Why you should care about "Treasure" loot
Let’s talk about why you’re actually asking how do I make a fishing pole in Minecraft. It’s probably not for the protein.
Fishing is one of the few ways to get Saddles and Name Tags without raiding dangerous structures. In the 1.21 and 1.22 updates, the loot tables remained fairly consistent, though Mojang has made it harder to "AFK fish."
In the old days, you could build a tiny machine and stay away from your computer for ten hours. Now, the game checks if you're fishing in "open water." To get treasure, your bobber needs to be in a 5x5x5 area of water. No more fishing in a single hole in your basement. It has to be a lake, a river, or a deep ocean.
Surprising things you can catch
- Enchanted Bows: Often they have nearly zero durability, but they might have Power IV or Flame.
- Leather Boots: Usually junk, but occasionally they have decent enchantments.
- Bowl: Honestly, why is there a bowl in the ocean?
- Lily Pads: Great for decorating your base.
The logic of weather and light
Did you know it’s better to fish in the rain?
Seriously. If it’s raining on the block of water where your bobber is, the "wait time" for a fish decreases by about 20%. It’s a significant buff. Also, make sure your water has direct access to the sky. If there’s a block over the water (like a roof), the timer slows down.
Minecraft rewards you for being outside in the elements.
Repairing and combining
If you have two fishing poles that are almost broken, don't throw them away. Put them together in your crafting grid. It combines their durability.
However, if they have enchantments, use an Anvil. Combining two enchanted rods on an anvil is how you "stack" Luck of the Sea II to get Luck of the Sea III. It costs levels, but it's worth it for the efficiency boost.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of your new tool, start by crafting two rods immediately.
Go find a large body of water—not a puddle—and fish until you hit Level 10. By then, you'll likely have enough fish to tame a cat or feed yourself for days. Keep an eye out for a "Luck of the Sea" book in your loot; as soon as you get one, prioritize putting it on your rod.
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If you find a rod with Mending while fishing (which happens more often than you'd think), stop using your old one. Switch to the Mending rod immediately. It is the most sustainable way to play the game.
Once you have a "god-tier" rod, you can effectively stop farming for leather and string, as the ocean will provide most of the utility items you need for the mid-game. Stop thinking of the fishing pole as a food source and start treating it like a low-risk treasure hunter’s kit.