Where the sinking lure is in Ocarina of Time 3D
The sinking lure is a secret, rule-breaking lure hidden in the Fishing Pond in Lake Hylia. In Ocarina of Time 3D it sits at one of four spots around the pond: the end of the fallen log, two boulders on the north-west shore, the foot of the little waterfall in the north-east corner, or the rocks by the two wooden posts. It only shows up after you have won the pond’s prize for your age, and only after you pay 20 Rupees to fish.
Why the sinking lure isn’t there yet
The lure is locked separately for each age. It can only appear for the age that has already won the pond’s prize:
| Detail | Young Link | Adult Link |
|---|---|---|
| Prize to win first | Piece of Heart | Golden Scale |
| Record fish needed | 10 lb or more (some 9 lb fish count) | 14 lb or more (some 13 lb fish count) |
| Lure unlocked for | Young Link only | Adult Link only |
The prize also needs a new pond record. With no record set, the owner’s record is 6 lb for young Link and 7 lb for adult Link, so your first prize-sized fish beats it. The game weighs fish by length and rounds to whole pounds, which is why a 9 lb or 13 lb fish can go either way.
Common reasons it still won’t show up:
- Wrong age: a Piece of Heart won as young Link does not unlock the lure for adult Link.
- You haven’t paid: the spot is picked when you pay, and the lure only exists during a paid session.
- You left the pond: leaving resets everything, and the next time you pay the game picks a spot at random again.
- You already took it: there is one sinking lure per paid session.
- N64 spots: three of the four spots moved in the 3DS version, and only the fallen-log spot is unchanged. The pickup area is small.
The four sinking lure spots on the 3DS pond
- Fallen log: the end of the log lying in the water west of the middle of the pond.
- Two boulders: the pair of boulders on the north-west shore, below the rock wall.
- Foot of the waterfall: where the little stream comes down in the north-east corner.
- Rocks by the posts: the stepping rocks next to the two wooden posts, east of the middle of the pond.
Only one spot holds the lure in each paid session, and you can’t see it. The pickup area is about the size of Link standing on the spot, and it is also checked for height, so move across the marked point at the height shown in the views; passing beside or below it may not trigger the pickup. Not tested in-game.
How to pick up the sinking lure
- Win the prize for your age first (Piece of Heart or Golden Scale).
- Pay the owner 20 Rupees. You get the rod.
- Carry the rod to each of the four spots and stand right on it.
- When you find it, the owner shouts that you snagged a sinking lure. Choose “Use it now” to put it on, or “Get rid of it”.
If you win the prize in the middle of a paid session, the lure is hidden right away, so you don’t have to pay again.
What the sinking lure does, and why it pays nothing
It is a lure that sinks instead of floating. The pond’s rules sign bans sinking lures, and the owner sticks to that when he weighs a record:
- Record fish: a new record (any fish except the Hyrule Loach) caught with the sinking lure is weighed and becomes the pond record, but the owner says it breaks the rules and gives no prize, not even Rupees.
- The record tank then shows your record with the note “(NOTE: With illegal sinking lure.)”.
- The record still counts: a later legal fish has to beat it to earn anything. A big record set as young Link can also raise the adult record.
- Talking to him: while using the sinking lure, keep choosing “Let’s talk about something” until he comments on the lure. He admits the rules usually ban it, “but what the heck”. That does not make catches eligible for normal prizes.
- The Hyrule Loach is the exception: it pays a Purple Rupee whatever lure you use.
Fishing prizes in Ocarina of Time 3D
| Catch | Prize |
|---|---|
| First new record as young Link, regular lure: 10 lb or more (some 9 lb fish count) | Piece of Heart, and the sinking lure unlocks |
| First new record as adult Link, regular lure: 14 lb or more (some 13 lb fish count) | Golden Scale, and the sinking lure unlocks |
| Other new record, regular lure: 14 lb or more, or some 13 lb fish | Purple Rupee |
| Other new record, regular lure: 10 to 12 lb, or some 9 lb and 13 lb fish | Red Rupee |
| Other new record, regular lure: 6 to 8 lb, or some 9 lb fish | Blue Rupee |
| Other new record, regular lure: 5 lb or less | Green Rupee |
| Hyrule Loach, any size, any lure | Purple Rupee (the fish is released) |
| Any new record of an ordinary fish, sinking lure | Nothing |
An ordinary fish that doesn’t beat the record gets only “Not bad, but there are bigger fish in there!” You can keep one fish at a time, and fishing lasts as long as you like. The Golden Scale lets adult Link dive deeper, for example to the bottom of the Lakeside Laboratory pool; then speak to the scientist to receive a Piece of Heart.
3DS spots compared with the N64 original
The fallen-log spot is in exactly the same place as on the Nintendo 64. The other three moved when the pond was rebuilt for 3DS, each by more than the width of the pickup area, so following an N64 video step for step can leave you standing just beside the spot. Use the landmarks above instead. Twilight Princess and Majora’s Mask 3D have their own sinking lures; nothing here applies to them.
Where the pond is and its other rewards are on the Hyrule map; the Golden Scale and every other item are on the item list.
Sinking lure FAQ
Where is the sinking lure in Ocarina of Time 3D?
At one of four spots in the Fishing Pond in Lake Hylia: the end of the fallen log, two boulders on the north-west shore, the foot of the little waterfall in the north-east corner, or the rocks by the two wooden posts. The game picks one at random when you pay to fish. It is invisible, so walk over each spot until the owner calls out.
How do I unlock the sinking lure?
Win the pond’s prize for your age first. Young Link needs the Piece of Heart and adult Link needs the Golden Scale. After that, every paid session hides the lure at one of the four spots.
Does the sinking lure carry over from young Link to adult Link?
No. Each age has its own unlock. Winning the Piece of Heart as young Link does nothing for adult Link, who still has to win the Golden Scale before the lure appears for him.
Why can’t I find the sinking lure?
Usually because you haven’t won that age’s prize yet, or you are using N64 spot videos. You also have to pay first and carry the rod. The lure is reset every time you leave the pond, and once you pick it up there is no second one that session.
Can I get the Golden Scale or the Piece of Heart with the sinking lure?
No. A record fish caught with it still becomes the new record, but the owner refuses the prize and the tank notes the illegal lure. You also need those prizes before the lure can appear at all.
How many pounds do I need for the Piece of Heart and the Golden Scale?
A record fish of 10 pounds or more always earns the Piece of Heart as young Link; some 9-pound fish count too. As adult Link, 14 pounds or more always earns the Golden Scale; some 13-pound fish count. The fish also has to beat the pond record.
Do I need the sinking lure to catch the Hyrule Loach?
No. The Hyrule Loach pays a Purple Rupee whatever lure you use, and the owner releases it afterwards. The loach is not in the pond on every visit.