If you’ve opened the Fishing Journal in Voodoo Fishin’ and felt a bit lost, this should clear things up. This Voodoo Fishin’ Fishing Journal Guide breaks down how the Journal works, what all the icons actually mean, and how to use it properly so you can target specific fish instead of just guessing.
You’re never going to remove RNG completely, but once you understand this system, your odds get way better.
Where to Find the Fishing Journal
The Journal is on the main dock, right near the outhouses where you spawn or respawn.
To open it, just walk up to the bookshelf and press E.
What the Journal Actually Does
The Fishing Journal is basically your main reference for every fish in the game.
Everything is organized by species, and once you click a fish, you get a full breakdown of how it behaves, what it likes, and where to find it.
Think of it as your tracking system if you’re trying to hunt specific fish or complete bounties.
Fish Detail Page Explained
When you click on a fish, you’ll see two pages. Each side gives you different info, and both matter if you actually want to catch what you’re targeting.
Left Page (Basic Info + Your Progress)
Name + Rarity
At the top, you’ll see the fish name and its rarity tier:
Common → Rare → Epic → Legendary
If it says NEW!, that means you just discovered it.
Flavor Text
This is just lore. It doesn’t affect gameplay.
Your Records
- Total caught
- Largest catch for that species
Right Page (What Actually Helps You Catch It)
This is the important part.
Stats (Fight / Run / Endurance)
These bars show how difficult the fish is. Longer bars = harder catch.
Water Depth
This tells you where the fish sits in the water.
You’ll need to swap reels to match this.
Bait Preferences
You’ll see icons for bait tags the fish likes.
More matching tags = better chance to hook it.
Found In (Habitats)
This shows where the fish spawns.
If you’re hunting something specific, this is what you follow.
How to Catch a Specific Fish (Bounty Example)
Let’s say you’re targeting something like the Salty Lake Stalker.
It prefers:
- Pelagic + Top depth
- Bait tags like Rhythmic + Reflective
Here’s how you actually approach it.
Step 1 — Match Your Reel
Use a reel that matches the depth (Top or Pelagic).
This doesn’t guarantee the fish, but it puts it into your possible catch pool.
Step 2 — Match Bait Tags
You don’t need a perfect match.
Just aim to match as many tags as you can. The more you match, the better your chances.
Step 3 — Use the Right Bait Rarity
Bait rarity controls what fish can bite:
- Common → only common fish
- Uncommon → common + uncommon
- Rare → up to rare
- Legendary → up to legendary
Higher rarity bait still catches lower fish, so you’re not losing anything by going higher.
Important:
Using high-tier bait on weak gear usually ends with snapped lines.
Step 4 — Start With the Clearest Habitat
If the fish lists something obvious like Cattails, start there first.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
Step 5 — Move Around
Don’t sit in one spot.
Try multiple areas that match the habitat. Do a few casts, then move on.
Step 6 — Accept RNG
Even if everything is correct, sometimes you just won’t get the fish.
That’s part of the system.
Common Questions
“I used the right setup and still didn’t get it. Why?”
Most likely RNG, or you stayed in one spot too long. Try rotating locations.
“Is Pelagic + Top better than Top-only?”
Not really better, just broader. You’re covering more water types, not increasing odds directly.
“Can habitats overlap?”
Eventually yes. Tags like Fast Water and Cattails can stack.
In the demo, not all combinations are available yet.
“How do I maximize catch chances?”
- Match reel depth
- Match as many bait tags as possible
- Use the right bait rarity
- Rotate between matching locations
- Don’t expect perfect results every time
Even when you do everything right, you can still walk away with nothing. That’s just how it goes sometimes.
The key is learning how to read the Journal and adjust your setup instead of just casting randomly.
Once it clicks, you’ll stop guessing and actually start hunting specific fish.
Good luck out there.