Given that it has recently logged record numbers of concurrent players, Old School RuneScape is still a remarkably valid option when it comes to scratching that MMO itch. Players diving into the game for the first time since the early 2000s may not remember, but fishing is a vital skill within the game for not only making coins but for potentially raising the cooking skill to make tasty (and increasingly effective) healing items.
It's definitely safe to say that Old School Runescape isn't exactly known for its fun fishing mechanics. Still, Fishing is an important skill in this old school MMORPG so new players will need to know the best ways to level it up — even returning veterans might need a refresher on the best ways to go about accomplishing this. While leveling is harder for free-to-play players, there are still some incredibly valid strategies for both them and paying members to use.
7 Sea Slugs
Not all players want to spend money on the game, but unfortunately, the fastest way to level fishing early in RuneScape is for pay-to-play members only. The Sea Slug quest requires 30 Firemaking but is worth it for just how fast the quests it eventually leads to help level players up. By the end of the Sea Slug questline, players will be raised all the way to level 24 if they start at level 1 in the fishing skill, so this is an obvious and crucial get when players are raising it.
6 Shrimp And Anchovies
There are no golden fishing rods in Old School RuneScape but there are fishing nets! Fishing nets are particularly handy to beginners training fishing skills as they don't require a consumable item of any kind to use. This makes it easier to not take pauses during fishing, which in turn helps players gain experience faster.
The best fish to start catching when training early on are Shrimp and Anchovies. Some good fishing spots include south of the Al Kharid bank, near the Fishing Tutor, and south of the Draynor Village bank. Players must catch 447 shrimp to reach level 15 where they will then be able to catch anchovies. After catching 139 anchovies, players will reach level 20.
5 Fly Fishing Targets
For free-to-play fans of the game, fly fishing can reasonably be used to train from level 20 all the way to level 99, assuming they are patient enough for this method. It does take feathers to do, but thankfully feathers aren't too hard to find nor are they too expensive. Trout and Salmon can be found at Barbarian Village and Lumbridge. While salmon can't be caught until players have a fishing level of 30, once this level is reached players can expect to make anywhere between 30,000 and 50,000 fishing experience per hour.
4 Best Member Quests
The best quests for leveling up fishing are available to RuneScape members only. Sorry free-to-play fans, you'll have to train another way. The options for quests members can choose to take on are quite massive and result in a combined 38,149 experience in fishing. These quests include Swan Song, Sea Slug, Heroes' Quest, Fishing Contest, Rum Deal, The Fremennik Trials, and Tai Bwo Wannai Trio, so paying members are spoiled for choice here.
3 Dress For Success
The best item to wear while fishing cannot be found in a traditional raid. To get each piece of the Angler's Outfit, players must play through the Fishing Trawler minigame. There is a 1/8 chance of getting a piece of the outfit the player does not already own each time they play the minigame. If all pieces of the outfit are worn, experience gained from fishing goes up 2.5% — it might not seem like much on the surface, but it definitely adds up over time.
Players can also get their hands on the Fishing Cape. While it doesn't increase experience gains, its teleportation abilities can make getting to certain fishing areas far more convenient — after all, time is arguably a more costly expenditure than actual gold when it comes to leveling skills.
2 Barbarian Fishing
Barbarian Fishing sounds like something animal lovers would get highly upset about but is the most efficient way to level up fishing for pay-to-play players of Old School Runescape. It requires 30 agility and 30 strength to be able to do. Leaping trout, Leaping fish, and Leaping sturgeon are all available to catch from this method. Plus, it also helps players gain more agility and strength as they fish. Three stats trained up all at once? Forgive us the pun, but it'd be fishy not to do it!
1 Don't Ignore The Minnows
Catching minnows requires an 82 skill in fishing, but is one of the fastest ways to level up the fishing skill once it is available. Players go to Kylie's Minnow Platform and bring a small net to catch the tiny fishies. Outside of the ability to exchange minnows for raw sharks, players can also gain 15,000 experience per hour, with numbers going up to 56,000 per hour as their level increases.