How to Fish in Minecraft (Treasure, Enchantments and Loot)

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft a fishing rod (3 sticks + 2 string), cast into any water, and reel in when the bobber dips. Bites take 5-30 seconds; rain speeds them up ~20%, Lure shaves 5s per level, and in open water you can pull treasure like name tags, saddles and enchanted books.

What you need

1 fishing rod (3 sticks + 2 string from spiders or cobwebs)
Water for fishing; Java treasure requires the open-water volume described below, not direct sky
Recommended enchantments: Luck of the Sea III, Lure III, Mending, Unbreaking III

Step by step

Craft a fishing rod: 3 sticks diagonally with 2 string trailing from the top right.
Cast into any water - even a single source block works, though a proper pool unlocks treasure.
Watch the bobber: when a trail of bubbles swims up and the bobber dips, reel in fast (about 1-2 seconds in Java, half a second in Bedrock).
Fish under open sky and in the rain: covered water doubles the wait, rain cuts it ~20%.
Java treasure requires a qualifying 5×4×5 volume around the bobber: layers of water sources or non-colliding waterlogged blocks below, and air/lily pads above. No flowing water or obstructing solids in that volume. A three-block-deep pool helps keep the check valid as the bobber dips. Direct sky affects speed, not a separate treasure requirement. Bedrock has no open-water treasure check.
Use Luck of the Sea III for better treasure odds and Lure III for shorter waits. Mending repairs a damaged held rod when you collect XP, but other damaged Mending equipment can receive an orb instead. Watch durability rather than assuming the rod cannot break.

Java vs Bedrock

Java requires open water for treasure; Bedrock does not. Individual treasure weights also differ: enchanted books are slightly more likely within Bedrock's treasure category. The bite window is roughly 1-2 seconds in Java and half a second in Bedrock.

Versions: Describes the current Java and Bedrock releases. See the edition note for differences.

Frequently asked questions

What treasure can you get from fishing?

Name tags, saddles, nautilus shells, enchanted bows, enchanted fishing rods and enchanted books - including Mending, which is why fishing is a classic early Mending source. Junk includes lily pads, bowls, leather, sticks and bones.

How rare is treasure when fishing?

Without enchants: 5% treasure, 10% junk, 85% fish. Each Luck of the Sea level raises the treasure odds, so LotS III roughly doubles it.

Why is fishing so slow?

Two likely causes: the bobber is covered (no direct sky - this doubles wait time) or it is not raining (rain speeds bites ~20%). Lure III also cuts 15 seconds off the wait window.