WoW Classic Alliance Fishing and Cooking Guide
I always thought Fishing and Cooking in WoW Classic was cool for anyone looking to do the secondary professions. These two trades reward patience and attention and give you a way to stockpile useful items and food buffs. Over time I have tried many methods to balance experience gains while keeping leveling costs under control. Building these professions early helps everyone ahead in dungeons and raids, especially when extra gold and food buffs are needed. Here I will share the steps to go from 0 to 300 for Alliance territory and key quest lines.
Reasons for Mastering Fishing and Cooking
I find it interesting how Fishing and Cooking is a mix of relaxing and practical in WoW Classic. My own journey with these professions has been filled with quiet lake time and lots of gold from selling fish related goods. There are many reasons to get into these skills including easy access to stat boosting consumables and a steady source of vendor income. Being self-sufficient on food and buff items saves time when questing or running dungeons. Earning gold by selling fish on the Auction House is profitable in many situations.
| Reason | Details |
|---|---|
| Self-Sufficiency in Raids and PvP | Cooking provides buff foods like Nightfin Soup or Poached Sunscale Salmon, boosting stats. |
| Steady Source of Gold | Fish such as Deviate Fish or Stonescale Eel are in constant demand on Auction House. |
| Low-Level Leveling Advantage | Fishing helps early leveling by reducing downtime for health regeneration. |
| Quest and Reputation Opportunities | Some quests require fish or cooked meals, raising important factions or providing unique gear. |
| Relaxing Break from Adventuring | Enjoy peaceful moments by the water while still advancing your character’s progress. |
Spending time to develop these skills gives a long term advantage. The self sufficiency from preparing personal consumables improves survival chances when questing and cuts the need to buy vendor foods. Earning gold from fish or prepared meals keeps your funds healthy for mounts and gear upgrades. It’s a simple way to make the most of each level bracket.
Getting Started with Early Skills
Going from Fishing and Cooking from 0 feels simple once you understand the routes. I always buy an Apprentice rank in each profession from the nearest trainer. Alliance trainers are in Stormwind, Ironforge and Darnassus. After that I buy a basic Fishing Pole and a small stack of Shiny Baubles. Low level fish like Raw Brilliant Smallfish and Longjaw Mud Snapper can be found in Elwynn Forest, Dun Morogh or near Dolanaar in Teldrassil.
| Location | Skill Range | Fish Types | Cooking Recipes Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldshire Pond | 1-75 | Raw Brilliant Smallfish, Longjaw Mud Snapper | Simple Fish Recipes at the local inn or trainer |
| Dolanaar Lake | 1-75 | Raw Brilliant Smallfish, Longjaw Mud Snapper | Night Elf cooking trainer in Dolanaar |
| Iceflow Lake | 1-75 | Smallfish, Mud Snapper | Dwarf and Gnome trainers in Ironforge |
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Once you have those initial fish you can fire up the cooking stove. Apprentice level recipes like Brilliant Smallfish or Longjaw Mud Snapper will get Cooking up to 75. My approach is to fish in the same spot until 75 in Fishing, then collect enough fish to level Cooking to 75. This will set the foundation for the next phases which include Journeyman training and higher level areas.
Journeyman Strategies and Level 75-150
Journeyman training is from 75 to 150 and is an important part of the journey. My favorite spot is Southshore in the Hillsbrad Foothills where you can fish off the nearby dock for Bristle Whisker Catfish and eventually Mithril Head Trout in the nearby waters. Once you have enough of those fish I cook them using recipes from local vendors like Lindea Rabonne.
| Level Range | Key Fishing Spot | Fish to Catch | Cooking Goal (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75-125 | Southshore Dock | Bristle Whisker Catfish | Reach Cooking ~125 |
| 125-150 | River East of Southshore | Mithril Head Trout | Aim for Cooking ~150 |
This is where I start to see real progress with my character’s leveling. Gold from vendoring fish or selling them on the AH increases my wallet and experience from cooking speeds up the process. Fishing and cooking back and forth keeps the skill gain steady without needing external consumables.
Expert Recipes and Fishing Books
Above 150 in Fishing and Cooking requires the next level of knowledge, known as Expert. I find these in specific locations. The Expert Fishing – The Bass and You book is in Booty Bay from Old Man Heming and the Expert Cookbook is sold by Shandrina near the shore of Ashenvale. Without these books the skill cap is locked at 150 and you can’t go further.
- Buy “Expert Fishing – The Bass and You” from Old Man Heming in Booty Bay
- Get “Expert Cookbook” from Shandrina in Ashenvale
- Right click each book to increase your max skill to 225
- Go back to fishing and continue to level your skill
- Pick up advanced recipes that feature fish like Mithril Head Trout or mid-range fish
Having these books in your bag opens up new zones to level in. I usually start the next stage in Arathi Highlands or the Stranglethorn Vale coastline but any zone with fish that scales to 225 is fine. With these new recipes I can cook more and set myself up for the final push to Artisan.
It’s a nice feeling when I have both Expert books and new recipes. The progress is immediate especially when I enter higher level areas that have better loot. This is also a good time to collect fish that will sell well if the AH has buyers.
Artisan Quests to 225 and Beyond
Above 225 requires Artisan ranks which become available at level 35. There are two quests: one for Artisan Fishing and one for Artisan Cooking. Nat Pagle is west of Theramore and has the Fishing quest to increase the skill to 300. Daryl Riknussun or Dirge Quikcleave in Gadgetzan have the cooking quest to evolve beyond 225. Gathering the correct items is required.
| Quest Giver | Location | Items / Task | Rank Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nat Pagle | West of Theramore | Bring 4 Rare Fish (Savage Coast Blue Sailfin, Feralas Ahi, etc.) | Artisan Fishing |
| Dirge Quikcleave | Gadgetzan | 12 Giant Eggs, 10 Zesty Clam Meat, 20 Alterac Swiss | Artisan Cooking |
I felt like I hit a milestone when I hit Artisan. Each step requires travel and item gathering but the reward is worth it. With 300 in both Fishing and Cooking I can access advanced recipes and top tier fish which improves group performance in raids and dungeons and I can also sell high level consumables to endgame players.
Achieving 300 Skill in Moonglade
Once I’m above 225 I usually port my hearthstone to more quiet fishing spots. Moonglade is one of my favorite because Lake Elune’ara has mid to high level fish. This zone is accessible by swimming north from Darkshore or by passing through Timbermaw Hold (though that path might involve a few knockdowns by unfriendly Furbolgs at lower levels).
| Moonglade Fishing Tips | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Elune’ara |
| Commonly Yields | Spotted Yellowtail, Redgill, and Nightfin |
| Average Skill Range | Ideal for skill 225-300 |
| Access Methods | Swim from Darkshore or venture through Timbermaw tunnels at level ~50+ |
| Potential Auction House Profit | Poached Sunscale Salmon, Nightfin Soup recipes are in high demand |
I have my Shiny Baubles and a sturdy pole and I head to the best water spots around Lake Elune’ara. Consistency is key to getting from mid 200s to 300. Poached Sunscale Salmon and Nightfin Soup recipes are orange for most of this range so I use them to cook faster. The final push to 300 is always a sense of accomplishment as the finishing line for both professions is in sight.
Being able to fish in endgame zones is a huge advantage for raids, battlegrounds and gold-making. Having top tier fish to cook or sell is a self-sufficient way to gather resources. Each cast might yield a fish that sells well or a meal that buffs your party for the next big boss. It’s a journey worth remembering every time I go back to a watery spot in WoW Classic.
Big Iron Fishing Pole
I see players looking for gear that boosts their Fishing Skill by a significant amount and The Big Iron Fishing Pole is one of the best early items for that. This treasure can be found in the water traps off the coast of Desolace, near Sar’theris Strand. Elixirs of Water Breathing help a lot while searching the shellfish traps as it reduces the hassle of surfacing.
- Where: Desolace, west of Sar’theris Strand
- What: Use Elixir of Water Breathing, open shellfish traps in the water
- Watch Out: Level 32 mobs around the shoreline, Horde activity in the area
- Pole Stats: +20 Fishing Skill which allows you to fish in tougher waters
- Recommended Level: 30+ to manage hostile enemies effectively
Once I get the Big Iron Fishing Pole I notice the immediate difference. Higher level fish are easier to catch and fewer “fish got away” messages. Competition over these traps is high but timing a quick run and using stealthy tactics helps to complete the search. This item upgrades the whole fishing routine, speeds up the gain and reduces frustration especially as I push to 300 skill.
Thanks for reading the WoW Classic Alliance Fishing and Cooking Guide. I hope you found your way through these waters and stoves whether for personal buffs, gold-making or just for the fun of reeling in the next big catch. Fishing and Cooking is a way to power up your characters and be prepared for every raid and battleground. The roads between Stormwind, Ironforge, Gadgetzan and beyond have many opportunities to get to 300 skill and enjoy the rewards of these classic professions. May all your lines be tight and your meals be good in the world of WoW Classic.
