It seems like every RPG features fishing these days, but Pokemon was among the earliest to incorporate the system. Even 1996's Red & Blue versions — or rather, Red & Green, since that's how Japan rolled at the time — had a rudimentary fishing mechanic. And while other RPGs, such as Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Tales of Arise, have added layers of complexity to the world of hook-line-sinker, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl keeps things simple.

But "simple" doesn't mean "straightforward." With three different rods to acquire and a veritable buffet of Pokemon at sea, knowing where to find the Old Rod, Good Rod, and Super Rod in Pokemon BDSP is only the beginning; you need to know where to locate the best fishing Pokemon so you can quit it with the Magikarp (the meme is tired, Game Freak!) and reel in the big one.

Your first order of business is to obtain a rod. Granted, your first rod is going to be an Old Rod, and Old Rods are so terrible that you really ought to be able to just scoop up water with your bare hands for all the good it will do you. But better gear awaits. Here's how to get each of the game's three varieties:

Our guide will break things down for you in terms of where you'll be able to catch the rarer sorts of Pokemon, the ones you registered that rod for in the first place. Everyone will have a Goldeen after just a few traipses with the Good Rod, and we've already made the obvious Magikarp joke twice here, but some species are either impossible to find without fishing or close enough to it that you'd truly be better off just busting out that bait.

There's some good Pokemon in this fishing list, too - including some you might even want to take to the Move Tutor to learn Hydro Cannon. And, well, uh... if you really need another Magikarp, you can get one through an NPC Pokemon Trade, too.