interestingly enough, durability not only makes it easier, but it actually makes it slower.
if you're catching fish equal to or under your prof, you may find a 10 durability rod actually suits you more than a 150 rod.
However you'll want the 100+ dura when trying to catch them 3-5 levels ahead of your current fish

Tell me More about this?

Would this be using a rod that's t6 or whatever with fishing prof only lvl 10?

have you not noticed using rods with less durability gets the fish faster?
prof gains are about the same if not slightly slower.

not really a lot more to add tbh.

Yes but how do I use a higher rod. It's red

You can still use them tbh. There's a point where you cant use one that's too high above your skill level, but you can use ones above your level.

how are they going to get prof if they can't catch fish

strangely whether or not its red is based on your character level and nothing to do with your prof.
Whether or not you can use it is based on your prof though, although the numbers at which you can use them seem very random and i do not know when they become available.

At 11 prof i can use a tier VIII (skill rank 35) rod, although it has no use to me as other rods simply perform better.
At 11 prof i cannot use Tier IX (skill rank 40).
When i'm catching level 15 fish with 11 prof (usually during a faster fishing event) i'll use a high durability tier V (skill rank 20) rod. Should be using a rod and with as much durability as possible.
If i'm catching level 10 or 11 fish, i will use a rod 1 tier below and with a very small amount of durability to make catching faster. Currently using an oak with 30 durability, I would personally avoid using more durability than that.
Tier 1-3 can be used by any amount of prof
Tier IV needs at least some prof, attempting with 0 prof will just not start the fishing at all.

To some extent i'd suggest the following:
Fishing the recommended prof +1 fish:
Fishing level 1-4 fish, with 0-3 prof use High durability splintered or any durability pine.
Fishing level 5-9 fish, with 4-8 prof use high durability pine, or any durability elm
Fishing level 10-14 fish, with 9-13 prof use high durability elm or any durability oak (i'm currently personally using a 30 durability oak to catch lvl 11 fish with 10 prof)
ETC in short use the rod with equal to or upto 5 skill rank higher than the fish you're trying to catch

When fishing the next tier past your fishing prof, generally do this during faster fishing events. Can be done especially towards the higher ends of the recommended prof without fishing events.
Fish level 5 with 0-3 prof: use high durability elm
Fish level 10 with 4-8 prof: use high durability oak
Fish level 15 with 9-13 prof: use high durability ironwood (personally using a 100 dura ironwood)
ETC In short use the rod 5 skill rank higher than the fish you're trying to catch.

I would avoid attempting to catch more than 5 levels past your prof, but certainly doable during very good fishing speed events

NEVER use the loaner rod

This post was edited by Bigheaded on Nov 4 2022 08:10am