With the recently released Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, trainers new and old can experience the Sinnoh Region all over again. Released initially as Pokémon: Diamond, Pearl, and later Platinum for the Nintendo DS, the remake brings back classic game mechanics, some with an update such as Hidden Moves, and others unchanged, such as fishing. While there are designated fishing areas in Pokémon Sword and Shield, in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl almost every body of water can be used for fishing up Pokémon.
In order to fish in BDSP, trainers need to acquire a fishing rod that cannot be purchased and instead given out by three NPC fishermen. Of these rods, the earliest one that trainers can find is the Old Rod. The Old Rod is the weakest of the three available rods, but with the main Pokémon, it can pull up Magikarp for trainers. For those who need an early powerful Water-type like Magikarp’s evolved form Gyarados, Pokémon BDSP's Old Rod is the easiest way to get them.
Before trainers have earned their first badge, they will have a chance to get the Old Rod in Jubilife City. Then, after trainers have spoken to the NPC that gives them the quest to gather three coupons for a Pokétch, they will be able to explore most of the city. To find the west exit to Route 218, trainers should continue north past the Pokétch quest NPC and, upon reaching the final intersection (before the north exit to Route 204), should turn west (left) and go straight until they arrive and enter the gate.
Getting The Old Rod in Pokémon BDSP
Before proceeding to Route 218, an NPC will be dressed as a fisherman that players can interact with. Trainers should talk to him and select the option “Yes” to receive Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl's Old Rod. To equip the Old Rod, trainers should press the X button to bring up the main menu and toggle over to the yellow square labeled Bag and select it with the A button.
Within the items menu, trainers should toggle over to the Key-shaped icon and then scroll down to the newly added Old Rod. From here, trainers can press A to bring up the sub menu for the rod and either select “Use this item” to bring it out when facing a body of water or “Register” to add it to their quick select menu. To select the Old Rod from the quick-select menu, press the “+” button, which will bring up all registered items, and then toggle in the direction of the Old Rod.
Further in the game, trainers will also gain access to the Good Rod and Super Rod, which have the ability to catch a larger variety of Water-type Pokémon at higher levels. The only place that the fishing rod will not work is in the water bodies that can be found in the Grand Underground. Using the Old Rod in the Grand Underground will trigger the “wild Pokémon meme,” saying, “Rowan’s words echoed…There’s a time and place for everything! But not now."
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are available now for the Nintendo Switch.