Crimson Desert Fishing Not Reeling In Fix
Fishing not reeling in Crimson Desert feels completely broken when the right stick does nothing, even though you are clearly doing everything right. This is not a timing issue or misunderstanding of the mechanic… it is a real input bug that mainly affects controllers, especially on Xbox and wireless setups.
How To Fix Fishing Not Reeling In Crimson Desert
Plug your controller in with a wired connection or switch to mouse and keyboard, since wireless input often does not register the reeling action.
Why The Reel Does Nothing
The fishing system itself actually works, but the problem is how the game reads your inputs. On some setups, especially wireless controllers, the game fails to detect the right stick rotation needed to reel the fish in.
That is why you can hook the fish and fight it normally, but the moment it is time to reel, nothing happens. It creates the feeling that you are stuck doing it forever.
Fixes That Actually Work
There are a few fixes that consistently solve the issue. The biggest one is switching away from wireless input.
Plug your controller directly into your console or PC using a cable
Use mouse and keyboard instead of controller
Disable Steam Input or controller software on PC
Try a different controller if you have one
The wired fix is the most reliable and usually works instantly.
What To Do If It Still Does Not Work
If the issue continues even after that, try resetting things.
Restart the game fully, re-equip your fishing rod, and move to a different fishing spot. It does not always fix it, but it can help the game properly register inputs again.
How Fishing Is Supposed To Work
Fishing follows a simple loop once it is working correctly.
You hook the fish, then pull in the opposite direction while it is fighting. Once the fish stops splashing, that is when you start reeling. If reeling does nothing during that moment, then it is the bug and not your timing.
Easy Workaround For Fishing Quests
If you just want to complete a quest and move on, there is a simple workaround.
You can jump into the water and catch fish manually instead of using the rod. It skips the broken mechanic entirely and still counts for quest progress.
Final Blurb
Fishing in Crimson Desert feels way harder than it should right now, but the issue is not the system itself… it is input detection. Switching to a wired controller or mouse and keyboard fixes it for most players immediately. Until a patch comes out, that is the best way to deal with it.
FAQ
Why is fishing not reeling in Crimson Desert
The game is not detecting right stick input properly, especially on wireless controllers.
Does plugging the controller in fix it
Yes, using a wired connection fixes the issue for most players instantly.
Can you use mouse and keyboard instead
Yes, and it works much more reliably than controller right now.
Is this a bug or intended
This is a bug, not intended behavior.
Is there a workaround for fishing quests
Yes, you can catch fish manually by swimming instead of using the rod.
