Fishing is one of the most overlooked and underrated mechanics in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, but it’s a required method for catching some of the most overpowered Pokemon in the game, like Gyarados and Dragonite.
Even if you’re playing on the Nintendo Switch version, the rod system works exactly the same as it did on the original Game Boy Advance and emulators.
In this complete fishing rod guide, I’ll teach you where to get all three rods in Kanto, what they can do, and the best Pokemon you can catch with each one.
Key Highlights:
- There are three types of fishing rods in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, with each being better than the previous one.
- The Old Rod can be obtained from Vermillion City, while the Good Rod is located at Fuschia City. Lastly, the Super Rod is in a house on Route 12.
- Some of the best Pokemon you can catch using these rods are Gyarados, Dratini, Staryu, and Horsea.
Types of Rods
There are three types of fishing rods in FireRed and LeafGreen. Each one improves your fishing capabilities and allows you to encounter stronger Pokemon.
All rods are the same whether you play the game on a Nintendo Switch or a GBA emulator.
Old Rod (Tier 1)
The Old Rod is the first fishing tool you’ll obtain in the game. It allows you to fish very low-level Pokemon, typically ranging from Level 1 to 10.
The encounters are quite limited, and most of the time you’ll only catch Magikarp. While it may seem useless, the Old Rod still has value early in the game.
If you missed the Magikarp vendor at the Pokemon Center beside the entrance to Mt. Moon, it’s a quick way to fish for one and evolve it into Gyarados later on.
Good Rod (Tier 2)
The Good Rod is a significant upgrade over the Old Rod. With this rod, you can encounter Pokemon between Level 10 and 25. This also opens up better options such as Poliwag, Goldeen, and other mid-game Water types.
Super Rod (Tier 3)
The Super Rod is the best fishing tool in FireRed and LeafGreen. It allows you to encounter Pokemon from Level 25 all the way up to Level 50 or higher. This includes some of the strongest Water-type Pokemon in the game.
If you’re looking to catch high-level Pokemon or complete your Pokedex, the Super Rod is essential.
Where to Find All Rods in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
Now that you understand the differences between each rod, let’s go over the locations of each one.
Old Rod Location
The Old Rod is found in Vermilion City, where you can fight the Gym Leader, Lt. Surge. To get it, head to the house located just to the left of the Pokemon Center.
Inside, you’ll find a fisherman who will give you the Old Rod for free. This will be your first introduction to fishing in the game.
Good Rod Location
The Good Rod can be obtained in Fuchsia City, home of Koga and the fifth Gym. From the Pokemon Center, walk toward the right side of the city.
You’ll find a house near a small pond. Inside lives another fisherman who will give you the Good Rod. At this point in the game, you’ll start encountering stronger Pokemon through fishing.
Super Rod Location
The Super Rod is the final and most powerful fishing tool. To obtain it, you need to progress further into the story. Get the Poke Flute, wake up Snorlax, and head to Route 12.
Look for a small house located between two bridges. Inside, you’ll find the Master Fisherman who will give you the Super Rod. This rod unlocks the best fishing encounters in the game.
Best Uses and Captures for Each Rod
Old Rod
The Old Rod is every Gyarados fan’s favorite item. While you can just purchase a Magikarp for 500 Poke Dollars before the second gym, and it’s also a great choice, using the Old Rod later on can give you an advantage on another angle.
Since you can catch a Magikap as soon as you get the Old Rod, you avoid training a useless fish for several levels in the earliest part of the game.
By this time, you’ll also have more powerful Pokemon that can help make training Magikarp way faster than training it on Mt. Moon.
Good Rod
With the Good Rod, you can fish for Magikarp, Goldeen, and Poliwag. Poliwag is the gem here since it can evolve into Poliwrath, a solid Water/Fighting type and good HM slave.
But there are two version exclusives that make the Good Rod a top-tier item: Staryu and Horsea.
They evolve to Starmie and Seadra (Kingdra through RSE trade), two of the strongest Pokemon in the competitive scene of their generation. So, they’ll naturally wreck havoc on the main story.
You can catch Poliwag on Route 6, Route 22, Fuchsia City, Vermilion City, Celadon City, Safari Zone, Route 10, Route 11, and Route 12.
Super Rod
The Super Rod is the flagship fishing equipment and is best for catching-high level Pokemon and rare aquatic species.
You can fish for Level 15-25 Gyarados in Fuschia City, Cinnabar Island, and Pallet Town. But the best catch you can use the Super Rod for is Dratini in the Safari Zone.
This is the only way to obtain your own Dragonite, a late-game monster that destroys the Pokemon League.
On the other hand, you also need the Super Rod if you want to complete your Pokedex since it allows you to fish for rare Pokemon such as Shellder, Krabby, Psyduck, Slowpoke, and more.
Conclusion
Now you know where to get all the fishing rods in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen and their best captures.
While fishing may seem like a small feature at first, it actually opens up access to some of the most useful and powerful Water-type Pokemon in the game.
From a humble Magikarp to the most coveted Dratini. The right rod at the right part of the game will help you create a better team and make your Kanto journey more memorable.
If you’re looking for more FireRed and LeafGreen guides, tips, and resources, PokeCoders has everything you need to help you become the very best.
Whether you’re playing on the Nintendo Switch or a GBA emulator, we got you covered.
