

You should try adjusting the retrieve speed with the mouse wheel. You can press the shift key while reeling in for max retrieve speed. I use the “V” key as alt strike and space bar (default) for reeling in. I also like setting up keyboard keys as an alternative to mouse buttons/trackpad for “pulling” (reeling in) and striking. I suggest sticking with swing casting for now, however, because it gives long telescoping float poles the best leverage for strikes (when you raise the rod tip to set the hook) and avoids weeds. After you finish, try pressing the F11 key to switch to overhead casting (I bound it to the “\” key to make it easier to find on a laptop keyboard). Start out by following directions to complete the tutorial.

I'm sure others will come along who are more knowledgeable about the game (and fishing in general tbh) to help you out but there's something to get you going.This guide will show you how to become a good virtual angler in Fishing Planet.

Lots of good videos on YouTube to help you out too, if you need more in-depth advice. I'd recommend setting up a rod with a casting spoon to catch bass where you're at (Lone Star Lake, unless you've moved on already) for money and xp, though doing the missions are a decent way to supplement your cash and xp since you'll be there for a while anyway. Nothing wrong with a bobber setup I guess, I just don't like it in the game, which is funny since I usually always fish irl with a bobber setup and/or a bottom setup, only using a lure if I'm not getting any good bites off of my normal setups (location matters too though, but that's getting technical) I'm no expert (I do fish irl but it's always been either using a bobber, which I don't use in-game, using a lure or fishing bottom with just a sinker or two) but I use a rod with a open-faced reel a lure (forget what the rod types and reel types are called in-game, forgive me) for catching predatory fish like bass and such, and a bottom setup (believe for an early bottom setup you can use what they call "feeder" rods in-game) to fish for (depending on the map) either more of what I'm catching with the lure setup or something different
