10 articlesCatching a Golden Shiner in Fishing Planet can feel like chasing a ghost when you’re grinding the early missions.
However, there’s actually no crazy secret trick to catch them. Instead, you just have to know the right fishing spot, use the right setup, and have a bit of patience.
Here’s how you can catch Golden Shiner in the game.
Where to Catch Golden Shiner Fishing Planet
Due to its apparent rarity, the Golden Shiner can give many players trouble. However, this can be alleviated by knowing their preferred bait types and ideal locations.
Fishing Planet: Best Places to FishMar 13, 2022
Fishing Planet: How to Catch Smallmouth Buffalo [UPDATE]May 21, 2026
Fishing Planet: How to Cast Far Mar 13, 2022The Golden Shiner is one of the common fish species you’ll need to land for early lake exploration missions. They generally live in quiet waters with vegetation where they school near weeds, lily pads, or shallow breaks.
That said, they’re not restricted to one lake globally in the game. However, Lone Star Lake in Texas is by far the most consistent fishing spot for beginners.
In this location, you can catch Golden Shiners around weedy edges and lily pad openings in this lake, especially near the bridge and shoreline with plant cover.
Other lakes like Emerald Lake in New York also contain Golden Shiners, but it’s not as reliable as the previous location.
What Setup to Use when Catching Golden Shiners
For this specific fish, you don’t really need complicated gear. Just make sure to bring the basic fishing rod and other tools with you.
I recommend a small hook like #8 or even #10 on a float setup. Smaller hooks mean the tiny mouths actually get a good hookset.
Moreover, use dough balls and semolina balls as bait, though red worms can also work well. Bread is another common bait that gets bites from shiners, as it’s an easily visible, slow-sinking target near weeds.
That said, you won’t see them busting in 100 ft. of water. Hence, make sure you set your float so the fishing bait sits about 15–30 inches down near cover like lily pads or weed edges.
Still, it’s worth noting that Golden Shiners can seem rare or elusive even when you have all the right gear.
Sometimes, catching one involves RNG, which could mean pulling 5 other fish before that actually getting a shiner.
