Professional Fishing 2 – The Best Settings, Starting Strategy, and First Purchases

Welcome, anglers, to the Early Access launch of Professional Fishing 2 (PF2)! As with any new and deep fishing simulator, taking your first steps into the world can be a bit overwhelming. From figuring out the best settings to knowing what to do with your very basic starting gear, a little guidance can go a long way in turning your first fishing trip into a successful and profitable career.

This guide is designed to be your ultimate resource for getting started as quickly and efficiently as possible. We’ll walk you through the optimal initial settings to configure for a smooth experience, provide a step-by-step strategy to transform your free starting equipment into your first major profits at the productive Edgefal Lake, and advise you on the most important first purchases you should make to accelerate your journey from a novice angler to a seasoned pro. Let’s get our lines in the water!

Section 1: Dialing It In – Optimal Settings for Your First Session

Before you even make your first cast, spending a few minutes in the settings menu will ensure you have the most comfortable and effective setup.

Graphics and Display Settings

Professional Fishing 2 does not have a one-size-fits-all graphics configuration, so you will need to tailor these settings to your specific hardware. A good starting point is to select the “High” graphics preset and then adjust individual settings from there if you are experiencing performance issues. Two of the most important settings to pay attention to are:

• Field of View (FOV): This setting, which defaults to 40, can be a powerful tool. A good strategy is to adjust your FOV based on your current fishing style. When using a float, you might want a narrower FOV to keep the float clearly in focus. When fishing from the ground (bottom fishing), a wider FOV can provide better situational awareness of your surroundings. Experiment to find what feels most comfortable for you.
• Float Zoom: This is a crucial setting that you should set to its maximum value. A higher float zoom will make your float appear larger and clearer on the screen, allowing you to detect subtle bites much more easily, which is essential for successfully hooking fish.

Controls and Gamepad Workaround

The standard keyboard controls are described as intuitive and easy to learn. However, controller users may run into a snag. In the current Early Access build, the in-game gamepad option is locked and cannot be changed.

Fortunately, there is a workaround. To use a controller, you must configure it outside of the game through Steam’s own controller settings. Go to your Steam library, find Professional Fishing 2, and access its controller configuration menu. From there, you can set up your gamepad. When you launch the game, it should then correctly recognize your controller inputs.

Quality of Life Settings

For a cleaner and more immersive experience, it’s recommended to make two final adjustments in the in-game settings:

1. Disable Network Notifications: This will prevent pop-ups from other players from interrupting your view.
2. Disable the Help Panel: Once you’ve gotten the hang of the basics, turning this off will free up valuable screen real estate.

Section 2: The First Hour – From Zero to Hero at Edgefal Lake

Your journey begins at Edgefal Lake with a very basic set of free equipment. This section will guide you through the process of turning that simple gear into a profitable fishing operation.

Your Free Starting Gear

You will start your career with the following items:

• A basic rod and reel.
• Mono 008 fishing line.
• A very small size 18 hook.
• Bread as bait.

This setup is only capable of catching the smallest fish in the lake, but that’s exactly what you need for the first step.

Step 1: Earning Your First 100 Coins

Your immediate goal is to earn your first 100 coins (referred to as “weight” in the game). Use your starting bread bait and the tiny size 18 hook to catch any small fish that bite. It won’t be glamorous, but it’s a necessary first step. Sell your catches until your wallet hits the 100-coin mark.

Step 2: Your First Crucial Gear Upgrade

With your first 100 coins, it’s time for your first and most important upgrade. Go to the shop and purchase the following:

• A size 2 hook.
• Crucian carp groundbait.

This is the key to accelerating your progress. The larger hook will prevent the tiny fish from taking your bait, ensuring that only larger, more valuable species can be hooked. The crucian carp groundbait will attract these more profitable fish to your swim. Equip these two new items on your free rod and line.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Camp

Before you make your next cast, it’s a good idea to set up your tent. The tent acts as a portable save point for your physical location in the world. By setting it up at your favorite fishing spot, you ensure that you will always load back into that exact location whenever you restart the game, saving you a long travel time. The recommended spot at Edgefal Lake is on one of the wooden platforms or piers.

Step 4: The Shoreline Fishing Technique

This is the most important strategic tip for maximizing your profits at Edgefal Lake. Instead of casting out into the middle of the lake, stand at the end of the fishing platform and cast your float rig towards the shore, near the pier.

This clever technique exploits the fish’s AI. When hooked, the fish will try to swim away, but because they are close to the bank, they will swim parallel to the shoreline. This makes the fight much easier and more predictable, as the fish has less open water to run to. You’ll be able to land these larger fish more quickly and consistently using this method.

Step 5: Filling Your Net and Making Money

Using this shoreline technique with your new size 2 hook and crucian carp bait, you will begin to catch much larger and more valuable fish, such as pike. Your free starting keepnet can hold approximately 10 of these fish. You will find that you can fill your net very quickly, allowing you to rapidly accumulate both experience points and currency.

Section 3: Your First Big Purchases – Investing for the Future

Once you’ve used the shoreline technique to earn your first substantial amount of money, it’s time to invest in upgrades that will dramatically increase your efficiency.

Your number one priority should be to upgrade your keepnet. A larger net means you can fish for much longer before you have to stop and go sell your catch, which is the key to making more money per hour. A 30kg net costs 1,000 currency, but it is highly recommended to save up for an even larger one, such as a 90kg net, as your first major purchase. The game also allows you to use two nets simultaneously, so eventually owning two large nets will be your goal.

After you’ve secured a large keepnet, your next best investment is live bait. Purchasing live bait from the shop will unlock the ability to target the largest and most valuable predatory fish in the lake, taking your income to the next level.

By following this simple but effective strategy, you’ll be well on your way from a novice angler with basic gear to a professional with a full net and a heavy wallet. Tight lines!

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