OSRS Fly Fishing XP Per Hour Guide
Fly fishing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a popular method for training the Fishing skill, especially for free-to-play (F2P) players and early-game members. This guide explores the experience points (XP) per hour you can expect from fly fishing, the best spots, tick manipulation techniques, and tips to maximize efficiency. Whether you’re aiming for level 99 Fishing or just looking to level up quickly, this blog post covers everything you need to know about fly fishing XP rates in 2025.
Fly fishing involves using a fly fishing rod and feathers to catch trout and salmon at specific fishing spots. It’s accessible from level 20 Fishing and remains one of the fastest training methods up to level 58, especially for F2P players. The method is relatively low-effort without tick manipulation, but mastering 3-tick fishing can significantly boost XP rates.
Requirements for Fly Fishing
To start fly fishing, you’ll need:
- Fishing Level 20: Required to catch trout.
- Fly Fishing Rod: Purchase from fishing shops like Port Sarim or the Grand Exchange.
- Feathers: One feather is consumed per fish caught. Stock up on 5,000–225,000 feathers depending on your goal (approximately 450,000 GP at 2 GP each for level 20–99).
Why Choose Fly Fishing?
Fly fishing is ideal for players who want a balance of decent XP rates and low intensity. It’s also the fastest F2P method from level 20 to 99 without tick manipulation. For members, it’s a stepping stone to Barbarian Fishing at level 58. The fish (trout and salmon) have low value, so dropping them is recommended to maximize XP over banking.
Fly Fishing XP Rates Without Tick Manipulation
Without tick manipulation, fly fishing is an AFK-friendly method with moderate XP rates. The XP per hour depends on your Fishing level and whether you catch trout (50 XP each) or salmon (70 XP each, available from level 30). Below are the expected XP rates at various levels when dropping fish:
| Fishing Level | XP Per Hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 15,000–20,000 | Catching mostly trout. |
| 30 | 25,000–33,000 | Salmon catches increase XP rates. |
| 40 | 30,000–35,000 | More consistent salmon catches. |
| 60 | 36,000–40,000 | Higher catch rates improve efficiency. |
| 80 | 45,000 | Stable XP with frequent salmon. |
| 99 | 50,000 | Maximum AFK XP rate. |
Note: These rates assume you drop fish using the shift-drop method for optimal efficiency. Banking fish reduces XP rates significantly due to travel time.
Time to Level 99 Without Tick Manipulation
Training from level 20 to 99 using fly fishing without tick manipulation takes approximately 360 hours, requiring around 225,000 feathers. This method is slower than tick manipulation or members’ methods like Barbarian Fishing but is relaxing and accessible for F2P players.
Maximizing XP with 3-Tick Fly Fishing
3-tick fly fishing is the fastest training method for Fishing from level 20 to 58, offering significantly higher XP rates than AFK methods. It involves tick manipulation, where you perform a 3-tick action (like using a herb on swamp tar) to trick the game into granting fishing XP every 3 ticks instead of 5.
How 3-Tick Fly Fishing Works
OSRS operates on a 0.6-second tick system. Normally, fishing grants XP every 5 ticks (3 seconds). In 3-tick fishing, you start a 3-tick action (e.g., combining a herb with swamp tar), then click a fishing spot. The game checks your action at the end of the 3-tick cycle, assuming you’re fishing, and awards XP faster.
Items Needed for 3-Tick Fishing:
- Fly fishing rod and feathers.
- Herb (e.g., Guam) and swamp tar, or a knife and teak/mahogany logs.
- Optional: Snow (from a snow globe, obtainable via Christmas events) for F2P tick manipulation.
XP Rates with 3-Tick Fly Fishing
With tick manipulation, XP rates increase by approximately 60% compared to AFK fly fishing. Here are the expected rates:
| Fishing Level | XP Per Hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 30,000 | Requires practice to maintain rhythm. |
| 30 | 40,000 | Salmon catches boost XP. |
| 58 | 55,000–65,000 | Peak efficiency before switching methods. |
| 99 | 90,000 | Maximum rate with perfect execution. |
Pro Tip: Practice the 3-tick rhythm in a low-pressure environment to master timing. It takes effort but drastically reduces time to 99 (around 170 hours from level 20).
F2P 3-Tick Fishing
F2P players can use an axe, tinderbox, and nearby trees (e.g., in Lumbridge) to chop logs, start a fire, and cook fish for tick manipulation. This method yields up to 80,000 XP per hour at level 99 but requires more setup.
Best Fly Fishing Spots in OSRS
Choosing the right fishing spot impacts convenience and efficiency. Here are the top locations for fly fishing in 2025:
Barbarian Village
Why It’s Great: Close to a permanent fire for cooking (useful for Ironmen) and accessible via Edgeville for dropping or banking. Ideal for F2P players.
How to Get There: Walk east from Varrock or use an Edgeville teleport.
Lumbridge
Why It’s Great: Perfect for low-level players near the goblin-infested river. You can chop logs nearby for F2P tick manipulation.
How to Get There: Use a Lumbridge teleport or walk from Draynor Village.
Shilo Village (P2P)
Why It’s Great: Closest fly fishing spot to a bank, ideal for Ironmen needing to bank fish. Requires completion of the Shilo Village quest.
How to Get There: Use a Karamja teleport or fairy ring (CKR).
Seers’ Village (P2P)
Why It’s Great: Quiet spot with nearby trees for tick manipulation. Less crowded than Barbarian Village.
How to Get There: Use a Camelot teleport or walk from Ardougne.
South of Prifddinas (P2P)
Why It’s Great: Offers 10% faster XP rates due to stable fishing spots. Best for high-level players with access to Prifddinas.
How to Get There: Use a Crystal teleport seed or Iorwerth camp teleport.
Tips to Optimize Fly Fishing Efficiency
To get the most out of fly fishing, consider these strategies:
- Use the Angler’s Outfit (P2P): Obtained from Fishing Trawler or Aerial Fishing, it provides a 2.5% XP boost when fully equipped.
- Eat Admiral Pies (P2P): Boosts Fishing by +5, allowing access to the Fishing Guild at level 63 for a +7 invisible boost, increasing catch rates.
- Enable Shift-Drop: In the game settings, enable shift-dropping to quickly clear your inventory, saving time over right-click dropping.
- Stock Up on Feathers: Buy in bulk from the Grand Exchange or fishing shops to avoid interruptions.
- Combine with Cooking (Ironmen): Cook fish at Barbarian Village’s permanent fire for Cooking XP, especially useful for low-level Ironmen.
When to Switch from Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is optimal until level 58, when Barbarian Fishing (3-tick) becomes faster, offering up to 110,000 XP per hour at level 99. For P2P players, consider Tempoross at level 35 for even higher XP rates (up to 100,000 XP per hour at level 90+). F2P players should stick with fly fishing to 99 unless prioritizing profit with lobsters or swordfish.
Conclusion
Fly fishing in OSRS is a versatile and efficient method for training Fishing, offering XP rates from 15,000 to 90,000 per hour depending on your level and use of tick manipulation. With accessible spots like Barbarian Village and Lumbridge for F2P, and Shilo Village or Prifddinas for P2P, it’s a great choice for players of all account types. By mastering 3-tick fishing and using boosts like the Angler’s Outfit, you can significantly cut down the time to 99. Start casting your rod today and reel in those XP gains!