Field manual / tackle
Dreadmoor bait guide: the right lure for the right mood.
Seven baits, two temperaments and one very expensive Sound lure. Here is every recipe, the fish each bait is listed for, and the chum entries hiding in the demo data.
The workbench does not care how much you want the catch.
Peaceful
Wind-Up Tin → Sturdy Earcrawler
Predatory
Rainbow Fin → Flaming Belly
Narrow predators
Pipecross / Deadly Tick
The seven baits in the demo
Bait is split by temperament first, then by rarity and cost. The demo gives most fish two equally weighted baits, so the choice is usually about what you can afford to craft and what else needs the same materials.
Earthworm
universal Common 1 valueThe simplest bait in the demo and the only one Snappers need.
Recipe
No workbench recipe
Starting tackle and traders
Listed for
Do not ignore the humble worm. The first contract is balanced around it, and buying fancy tackle will not make five Snappers appear faster.
Wind-Up Tin
peaceful Rare 5 valueA clicking tin of rotting meat that attracts small scavengers. The standard peaceful-fish lure.
Recipe
1× Metal Plate + 1× Fish Meat
Workbench after researching Wind-Up Tin
The first craftable bait most players make. It is the correct answer for the three-Softgrazer contract, so keep one Metal Plate and one Fish Meat in reserve.
Sturdy Earcrawler
peaceful Unique 20 valueA sound-emitting lure for peaceful fish that increases the chance of a trophy catch.
Recipe
1× Metal Plate + 1× Battery + 1× Thermo Coil + 1× Chromatic Scales
Workbench after researching Sturdy Earcrawler
Expensive to build and easy to lose. Use it when you are specifically hunting a class 3 peaceful fish, not when you are filling a routine contract.
Rainbow Fin
predatory Common 10 valueA feathered lure that flutters when reeled, provoking predators into a chase.
Recipe
1× Fish Meat + 1× Metal Plate + 1× Chromatic Scales
Workbench after researching Rainbow Fin
The key to the Harpooner contract. Cast into a splash zone, then retrieve at a pace the fish can follow. Too fast and the predator loses interest.
Flaming Belly
predatory Rare 15 valueA phosphorescent predator lure that mimics a wounded Snapper and increases trophy chance.
Recipe
1× Fish Meat + 1× Jaws + 1× Metal Plate + 1× Lily
Workbench after researching Flaming Belly
A direct upgrade over Rainbow Fin for trophy hunting. The Jaws requirement means you should stop grinding every predator you catch.
Deadly Tick
predatory Rare 25 valueA spring-loaded predator bait with a trap-like trigger; listed for Bonescar, Bully, Rammfish and Stonegnawer.
Recipe
1× Sharpfin Flesh + 1× Circuit Board + 2× Sturdy Metal + 1× Cable
Workbench after spending 5 Torn Pages on the Deadly Tick research
Listed for
A late demo project rather than a main-quest requirement. Sharpfin Flesh ties it to the level 50 peaceful catch, so plan the bait chain before spending materials.
Pipecross
predatory Unique 20 valueA heavy predator bait listed alongside Deadly Tick for Bonescar, Bully, Rammfish and Stonegnawer.
Recipe
No workbench recipe
Unique bait listed in the demo data; no workbench recipe
Listed for
The demo data gives Pipecross a unique rarity and a price, but no craft-table recipe. Treat it as a trader or exploration find rather than a guaranteed craft.
Bait matrix: every fish and its listed bait
This is the demo's affinity table in one place. Where two baits are listed, each has a 50% share. If you are targeting a specific fish, open its field sheet for the full size and tension data.
| Fish | Level | Type | Listed bait | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peaceful fish | ||||
 Bellybulge | Lv 0 | Standard | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 1/kg |
 Gravedigger | Lv 0 | Mutant | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 1/kg |
 Necrosoft | Lv 0 | Mutant | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 1/kg |
 Sawfin | Lv 0 | Mutant | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 1/kg |
 Shovelnose | Lv 0 | Standard | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 1/kg |
 Tileback | Lv 0 | Standard | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 1/kg |
 Toadling | Lv 0 | Standard | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 1/kg |
 Snapper | Lv 5 | Standard | Earthworm | 4/kg |
 Softgrazer | Lv 15 | Standard | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 8/kg |
 Sharpfin | Lv 50 | Standard | Wind-Up Tin / Sturdy Earcrawler | 16/kg |
| Predatory fish | ||||
 Cryptmaw | Lv 0 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 1/kg |
 Glowbug | Lv 0 | Mutant | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 1/kg |
 Hornhead | Lv 0 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 1/kg |
 Plasmling | Lv 0 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 1/kg |
 Rammfish | Lv 0 | Mutant | Pipecross / Deadly Tick | 1/kg |
 Rivetback | Lv 0 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 1/kg |
 Shardback | Lv 0 | Mutant | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 1/kg |
 Stormfin | Lv 0 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 1/kg |
 Bonescar | Lv 10 | Standard | Pipecross / Deadly Tick | 1/kg |
 Bully | Lv 10 | Standard | Pipecross / Deadly Tick | 7/kg |
 Crackback | Lv 10 | Mutant | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 7/kg |
 Gleamer | Lv 10 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 7/kg |
 Harpooner | Lv 10 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 7/kg |
 Harpy | Lv 10 | Mutant | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 7/kg |
 Stonegnawer | Lv 10 | Mutant | Pipecross / Deadly Tick | 7/kg |
 Swallower | Lv 10 | Mutant | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 7/kg |
 Bloodgill | Lv 30 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 12/kg |
 Greasechar | Lv 30 | Standard | Rainbow Fin / Flaming Belly | 12/kg |
Chum in the demo data
The demo's fish records include chum preferences alongside bait. They are not part of the three main fishing contracts, but they are a useful signal for optional fishing: the right chum changes what a spot is willing to offer.
Bread Crumbs
min 1 – max 3The cheapest chum entry in the demo data; listed as a preference on several peaceful fish.
Corn Mix
min 2 – max 4A heavier plant-based mix listed on Softgrazer and other peaceful records.
Fry
min 1 – max 3Small-fish chum associated with predator-adjacent water.
Shrimps
min 1 – max 2A richer chum entry for larger catches.
The developer's tutorial does not require chum to finish the demo. Treat these entries as data, not a shopping list.
Where to craft bait
Bait is made at the craft table, not the ship upgrades table. The main workbench is at Betsy and Sons; the Dry Dock also has a craft table. Hover over the recipe book or press R to open the formula list, then check the ingredient counts before committing.
The material bottleneck is usually Chromatic Scales, because the hull module, Rainbow Fin, Sturdy Earcrawler and Spotlight all want them. Plan the chain: catch Softgrazers, process them at the Thresher, then decide whether the scales go to John, to bait, or to the boat.
Bait FAQ
What is the best bait for peaceful fish in Dreadmoor?
Wind-Up Tin is the standard peaceful bait and the one the Softgrazer contract expects. Sturdy Earcrawler is the trophy-focused alternative: it emits sound and increases the chance of a larger specimen, but it costs a Thermo Coil and Chromatic Scales.
What is the best bait for predatory fish in Dreadmoor?
Rainbow Fin is the workhorse predator bait and the one needed for the three-Harpooner contract. Flaming Belly is the trophy-chance upgrade. Pipecross and Deadly Tick are a narrower pair listed for Bonescar, Bully, Rammfish and Stonegnawer.
How do I get Chromatic Scales for bait?
Catch Softgrazers at the marked peaceful fishing ground and process them at the Thresher near Betsy and Sons. The three-Softgrazer contract and the Rainbow Fin recipe both use the same supply, so process extra fish when you can.
Does chum matter in the Dreadmoor demo?
The demo data lists Bread Crumbs, Corn Mix, Fry and Shrimps as chum preferences on fish records, but the main quest does not require chum. Treat chum as a spot-preparation layer for optional fishing rather than a mandatory resource.
Where do I craft bait in Dreadmoor?
At the craft table. The main one is at Betsy and Sons, with another available in the Dry Dock workshop. Open the recipe book with R or hover over it to see the available formulas.