Water routes · Rod lab
Pokemon Yellow fishing: Old, Good & Super Rod
Three Fishing Guru gifts unlock Yellow’s water dex: Old Rod (Vermilion) is Magikarp-only, Good Rod (Fuchsia) rolls Poliwag / Goldeen, and Super Rod (Route 12) uses per-map tables for everything from Tentacool to Dratini. Use the finder below with map and Catch Planner links.
Fast answer
Three rods, three data rules
Yellow fishing is not one global pool. Old Rod always yields Magikarp on a bite. Good Rod is a two-mon random pair (Poliwag / Goldeen Lv.10). Super Rod reads the Super Rod fishing slots for the current map—so Route 12 Horsea lines differ from Fuchsia Magikarp/Gyarados water. This page indexes those tables from pret/pokeyellow-backed site data.
Fishing Guru gifts
Where to get every rod
Interactive tool
Species & water finder
Filter by rod and search by mon or location. Cards link into the Pokédex, Catch Planner, and interactive map. Super Rod location lists are map-specific.
Quick reference
Rod summary table
| Rod | Where to get | Species pool | Notes | Tools |
|---|
Play tips
How to use fishing in a story run
Old Rod = free Magikarp chain
Grab it as soon as you reach Vermilion. Magikarp is weak early but evolves to Gyarados at 20—a Surf / water-type shell for midgame. You can also buy a Lv.5 Magikarp from the salesman in the Mt. Moon Pokémon Center. Team legality: Team Planner.
Good Rod for Poliwag lines
Fuchsia’s Good Rod is the clean Poliwag / Goldeen farm before you unlock Super Rod variety. Cross-check wild grass alternatives in the Pokédex.
Super Rod is the real atlas
Need Staryu, Shellder, Horsea/Seadra, or Dratini? Change maps—not just “fish more.” Open the species card’s map links or the Catch Planner.
Surf still matters
Fishing needs a fishable water tile; many late waters also have surfing encounters. Use HM guidance from the HM slaves and TM/HM locations pages.
Checklist
Rod & water dex progress
FAQ
Fishing questions
Where is the Super Rod in Pokemon Yellow?
Route 12 Super Rod House—talk to the Fishing Guru’s brother. Map pin: Route12SuperRodHouse.
Is Old Rod only Magikarp?
Yes. When the Old Rod gets a bite in Yellow, the encounter is Magikarp.
How do I get Gyarados?
Evolve Magikarp at level 20, or fish Super Rod waters that can roll Gyarados directly (for example Fuchsia City’s table includes Gyarados).
Why don’t I see Dratini everywhere with Super Rod?
Super Rod slots are defined per map. Switch locations using this finder or Catch Planner instead of grinding one pier forever.
Do I need Surf to fish?
You need access to a fishable water tile and the rod item. Surf expands which shores you can reach but is not a substitute for the Super Rod tables.
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