The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Nintendo 64

DerMarcus 8 Sep 2024 14:20

I'm doing the requirements but it never spawns, at all

DerMarcus 8 Sep 2024 15:07

It finally worked on my end. For some reason, the "repeat paying 20 rupees 3x, leave, go in, pay again" didn't work at all on my end. So after another try of these steps, I went out and back in, paid the 20 rupees as Young Link and checked both spawn points (both lily pads spots). When it wasn't there, I repeated the "new" steps. Eventually, maybe on my third try, the Hyrule Loach did spawn. Not sure why, maybe the tracker remembers every single time I paid money there before in the game? Not sure. But my way worked, at least for me

SpectralOrion 26 Sep 2024 05:43

I managed to get this one quickly. Basically, you'll have to pay the fishing spot four times in order for a guaranteed spawn for the Loach. There are two near the lily pads if you play as child Link. But there's only one at the left lily pads as adult Link. While the sinking lure could make this catch easier, it's definitely possible to catch the Hyrule Loach with the regular lure.

GoldenYears 2 Dec 2024 07:51

I didn't realize you actually have to talk to the guy running the fishing game after you catch the loach to get this one to pop.

I caught this damn fish probably 15 times across multiple emulators and save files. What an idiot I am.

UhDarski 8 Dec 2024 14:01

Peguei de primeira.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4KGvhidTVs

alkalynity 9 Jan 2025 02:19

^ ignore this, I tested it multiple times and the loach always spawned on the 4th time after paying. you MUST pay each time, you cannot leave and re-enter. The hardest part is usually locating it and getting it to bite your lure. Someone could probably check the decomp to figure out the exact conditions, but the 4th cycle method worked fine.

Gelgumi 9 Jan 2025 22:46

It took me hours for it to spawn because i was trying that tactic. It wasn't until i gave up and started checking the lake before leaving every time i paid for the fish that i managed to see it spawn on the 2nd or 3rd time entering.
Went from being stuck 3 hours trying to figure out why it wasn't spawning to make it appear twice under 25 min of reseting if it didn't appear by the 4th re-enter. Usually at the bottom of the lake right in the middle.

Dunno if there's an actual conditions for it to spawn or not, but the 4th re-enter tactic was definitelly not working for me at all.

FreudianLisp 10 Jan 2025 17:17

This is the code the game uses to spawn the loach (per the decomp) which is called the moment you walk through the door and load the fishing hole:

if ((KREG(1) == 1) || ((D_80B7E07D & 3) == 3)) {
if (sLinkAge != LINK_AGE_CHILD) {
fishCount = 16;
} else {
fishCount = 17;
}
} else {
fishCount = 15;
}

It is not random. There is a bit in memory that tracks how many times you have paid for fishing. If that number is divisible by 3, then the number of fish that spawn in the pool is 17 for child & 16 for adult (Fish ID 16 & 17 are both loach. Yes, two loaches will spawn as child). Note that it spawns immediately upon entering the area after paying 3 times. However, after loading the area you need to pay a 4th time to actually be able to catch the fish, which is why people say you need to pay 4 times to make it spawn when it's technically 3.

That bit is tracked from the very beginning of the save file, it does not go back to zero when you reset the game. Also, the same bit is incremented for Child & Adult and does not reset when changing ages. So it is easy to get "off-cycle" if you forget how many times you have gone fishing earlier in the save.

FreudianLisp 10 Jan 2025 17:35

^ Note the counter only increments when you pay for fishing, not when entering the area. So if you enter the fishing pond, don't pay, go check on the fish and see the Hylian Loach, you can then leave and enter the area as many times as you want without paying and the loach will still be there every single time.

With that in mind, if you don't remember where you are in the cycle, follow this strategy to save the headache:
- Enter the pond and immediately check the fish
- If you don't see the loach, pay, and then leave. Repeat until you find it.
- Once you find it, DON'T PAY, just immediately leave the fishing hole.
- Go save the game inside the Water Temple (the closest respawn point)
- Head back to the fishing hole and try to catch the loach
- If you fail & it gets off the hook, reset the game. You will respawn in the Water Temple and the loach will be back the first time you enter. Repeat until you catch it.

CasperRaine 12 Jan 2025 03:02

Man, you really can just catch ANY fish by holding Down R+A. Once the loach was hooked, I just pressed that combo and sped up the emulator, and this bish took about a minute IRL with speedup.

Funny achievement art is the only reason I wanted this one lol.

Gelgumi 13 Jan 2025 20:42

@FreudianLisp Ohhh, the game tracking doesn't reset upon restarting the game. This is probably the issue i came across with because i wasn't keeping track with it from the moment i started fishing. Even showing code, which is very helpful. I apologize for the missunderstanding then.

RogerV135 24 Jan 2025 18:50

My advice for getting this one kinda quick is do the cycle of paying three times and leave, so the loach spawn and the fourth time, then go immediately for the sinking lure, run to the lily pads that are near the logs and try your best shot, because you can barely see the fish that are underneath, have in mind that YOU CAN ONLY GET THE LOACH WHEN IT IS IN THOSE LILYPADS. If it moves your best option is resetting the cycle of paying and leaving three times again, so it spawn the fourth time.

Also, have patience, lots of patience, good luck!!!

SoshiplayZ 11 Feb 2025 23:43

For people that struggle just know that when you know the trick its EZPZ and this guide helped me getting the loach first try! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4KGvhidTVs In fact it was HARDER to get the 20kg fish.

SoshiplayZ 11 Feb 2025 23:45

" YOU CAN ONLY GET THE LOACH WHEN IT IS IN THOSE LILYPADS. " uh akucally... (i am joking) if you get the lure and run up to the fish man and tell him about it then he will let you use it since you told him.

Neonsoldaat 26 Feb 2025 03:58

oke i give up efff this. i hte the fidhing in the game, effing BS

Ben42 17 Mar 2025 22:46

I've no idea why this isn't dropping for me. Reset emulator, and even caught it twice as child. Very frustrating.

Ben42 17 Mar 2025 22:51

I see. You must talk to the fishing guy. Nice!

mariocooper 22 Mar 2025 13:16

I hate this achievement!
I burned a lot of rupees & I’m not seeing the Loach at all at the lilypads as young Link.

bl00bird 6 Apr 2025 00:04

RogerV135 tip helps so much!! thanks man

danime 4 May 2025 17:30

For anyone using save states, this is free. Save the state as you walk through the door, confirm the spawn near the left lily pads. Load the state. Start fishing. Immediately go to the lily pads, z target the asshole, and throw the rod. If you fail/ spook him, reload the state. Do not even bother with the deep lure