Game Boy Color · gear progression + shop planner
Rods, Bait, Lures, Flies & Hooks in Legend of the River King 2
Build a working loadout for River King 2 (LotRK2) without buying every rod at once. Match the method—natural bait, lure, fly, or trolling—to the right rod family, then stock the cheapest compatible bait or lure for that water. This guide covers shop prices, free quest rods, hook sizes, and the optional 130 lb trolling rod.
- Rods
- 16
- Baits & lures
- 40
- Hooks
- 3 sizes
Interactive tool
Tackle Planner
Choose a fishing method and water type. The planner lists a practical rod, matching consumables, hook rules, and shop or quest unlock paths with Gold prices.Rod families
Pick the rod that matches the method
Wrong rod family means the tackle never works—even with perfect bite timing. Match method first, then upgrade length or line rating.Bait · no manual reel
T.Rod
Starter family for natural bait. The line rides the current; you cannot pull it back with B.
- T.Rod(S) — free starter
- T.Rod(L) — 300 G · freshwater shops
Bait · manual reel
Surf Rod
Also called Small Reel Rod in walkthroughs. Reel the line with B between casts—ideal after the Beach Opaleye trade.
- Surf Rod(S) — free Opaleye exchange
- Surf Rod(L) — 400 G · every Tackle Shop
Lure only
Lure Rod
Cast artificial lures. In the underwater view, drag the lure in front of the fish until it takes.
- 6f / 10f — shop (300 G / 600 G)
- 8f / 14f — free Stream / Summit quests
Fly · freshwater
Fly Rod
Freshwater fly fishing only. Pair with May Fly, Caddis, Midge, or Stone Fly patterns from freshwater shops.
- Fly Rod 5f / 11f — free Summit / Moor quests
- Fly Rod 7f — 500 G · freshwater shops
Bait · boat access
Boat Rod
Natural bait from a boat position. Unlock after Ocean progress; not a shore cast rod.
- Boat Rod(S) — free Yellowtail exchange
- Boat Rod(L) — 600 G · sea shops
Trolling · cruiser
Trolling Rod
Ocean cruiser method for large saltwater targets and Sea King. Uses trolling flies and baits, not shore casting.
- Trolling R.30 — free Shore Red Seabream
- Trolling R.80 — 800 G · sea shops
- Trolling R.130 — Shore Spearfish contest (optional late upgrade)
Save your gold
Free quest rods worth claiming
Nine rods have no shop price. Claim them when you pass the region—each one opens a method without a full shop buy.| Rod | Method | How to unlock | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| T.Rod(S) | Natural bait | Starter inventory on Kid and Teen | Start |
| Surf Rod(S) | Natural bait + reel | Give an Opaleye to the angler east of the Beach Tackle Shop | Beach |
| Lure Rod 8f | Lure | Trade Violet → Rose, then give the Rose by the Stream Inn | Stream |
| Fly Rod 5f | Fly | Give a Catfish to the father-and-child anglers in northern Summit | Summit |
| Boat Rod(S) | Natural bait (boat) | Give a Yellowtail south of the Ocean Tackle Shop | Ocean |
| Trolling R.30 | Trolling | Give a Red Seabream south of the northeast Shore dock | Shore |
| Lure Rod 14f | Lure | Deliver 3 Bream on Summit’s southern island | Summit |
| Fly Rod 11f | Fly | Give a Brook Trout to the woman by the Moor Inn | Moor |
| Trolling R.130 | Trolling | After Momo and cruiser access, win the old man’s contest with a Spearfish ≥ 230 cm | Shore |
Consumables
Bait, lures, flies, and trolling stock
Natural bait is method- and habitat-locked. Lures work in both waters. Flies stay freshwater. Trolling stock is sea-only from the cruiser.Freshwater bait (8)
Earthworm, Maggot, Insect, Mosquito Larvae, May Fly Larvae, Paste Bait, Fingerling, Frog. Shops at Lake, Stream, Moor, and Summit. Kid starts with Earthworm (5 G restocks).
Saltwater bait (8)
Lugworm, Marine Worm, Mussel, Krill, Rock Crab, H.Mackerel, H.M.Fillet, Mackerel. Shops at Beach, Shore, and Ocean. Teen starts with Lugworm (10 G restocks).
Lures (8)
Spinner Bait, Minnow, Popper, Vibration, Crank Bait, Jig, Worm, Frog. Sold in every Tackle Shop (25–60 G). Pair only with a Lure Rod.
Flies (8)
May Fly, Caddis, Midge, and Stone Fly in wet (W) and dry (D) pairs. Freshwater shops only (15–45 G). Need a Fly Rod.
Trolling bait (8)
Yg.Yllwtl Fly, Bonito Fly, Young Tuna Fly, B.Marlin Fly, Spearfish Fly, Bone Hook, Squid, Flying Fish. Sea shops (20–120 G). Sea King needs Spearfish Fly or Squid.
When fish reject tackle
Rapid unhappy chimes mean wrong bait, lure, or fly—not bad timing. Switch consumable first, then confirm rod family. Use the target-fish loadout builder for a compatible list.
Hook sizing
Hook(S), Hook(M), and Hook(L)
Hooks only matter for natural-bait rods (T.Rod, Surf Rod, Boat Rod). Lure, fly, and trolling setups do not use separate hook inventory.5 G · all shops
Hook(S)
About 30 cm and under average size. Starter targets: Sucker Eel (S.Eel) and Opaleye.
10 G · all shops
Hook(M)
About 31–60 cm. Step up when small hooks slip free after a solid hook-set.
15 G · all shops
Hook(L)
61 cm and up average size. Stock these before large river and sea bait fights.
These bands use average size as a practical starting point. Unusual spots and individual fish size can still force a size change—if the fight ends at the hook check, try the next size.
Gold checklist
Shop rod prices at a glance
Quest rods are free. These are the purchasable upgrades when you would rather spend gold than chase a trade fish.Freshwater shops
- T.Rod(L) — 300 G
- Lure Rod 6f — 300 G
- Fly Rod 7f — 500 G
- Hooks & freshwater bait / flies / lures
Lake · Stream · Moor · Summit
Sea shops
- Lure Rod 10f — 600 G
- Boat Rod(L) — 600 G
- Trolling R.80 — 800 G
- Saltwater bait & trolling stock
Beach · Shore · Ocean
Everywhere
- Surf Rod(L) — 400 G
- All 8 lures (25–60 G)
- Hook(S/M/L) — 5 / 10 / 15 G
Freshwater and sea Tackle Shops
Common mistakes
Why this tackle is not working
I bought a lure but nothing bites
Equip a Lure Rod (not a T.Rod or Surf Rod). In the underwater view, press A to move the lure until the fish takes it—lures are not passive bait.
My T.Rod will not reel in
Expected behavior. Upgrade to Surf Rod(S) via Opaleye or buy Surf Rod(L) for manual B-button retrieve.
Sea King never appears on shore casts
Sea King is trolling-only from the Ocean cruiser. Equip a Trolling Rod with Spearfish Fly or Squid—not shore bait.
Do I need Trolling R.130 for kings?
No. R.30 or R.80 opens Sea King trolling. R.130 is a late optional prize after a 230 cm Spearfish contest on Shore.
Hooks keep breaking or fish slip free
On bait rods, step the hook size up. On lure/fly/trolling, there is no separate hook—fix the consumable or rod length instead.
Quick reference
Tackle FAQ
What rods are in Legend of the River King 2?
Sixteen rods across T.Rod, Surf Rod, Lure Rod, Fly Rod, Boat Rod, and Trolling families—mix of starter, quest, and shop pieces.
Where do I buy River King 2 bait?
Freshwater bait at Lake/Stream/Moor/Summit shops; saltwater bait at Beach/Shore/Ocean. Lures and hooks sell in both groups.
Which hook for early fish?
Hook(S) for Sucker Eel, Opaleye, and other small average sizes. Buy Hook(M) and Hook(L) as targets grow past 30 cm and 60 cm.
Is the 130-foot trolling rod required?
No. It is a high-end contest reward. Start trolling with R.30 or the 800 G R.80.
How do flies differ from trolling flies?
Freshwater flies (May Fly, Caddis, …) need a Fly Rod on land rivers. Trolling “flies” are cruiser baits sold at sea shops for Trolling Rods.
What should I buy with my first 300 G?
If you still use a T.Rod, T.Rod(L) or a free Surf Rod path helps more than luxury lures. Stock Hook(S) restocks and route-correct bait first.