Dragonspine, am I doing it wrong?

[Espritduo]

Stats don't affect what fish bite in a pool. All fish in a given spot will bite at the same rate no matter what your stats are. Gathering only determines whether or not the fish will get away when it does bite, and perception only affects HQ rate. The only thing that affects what fish will bite are bait, time, and weather. Wearing lower level gear just gimps your stats for no benefit (higher spiritbonding speed is still a valid reason to do it, though).

[Angelhearth]

Stats don't affect what fish bite in a pool. All fish in a given spot will bite at the same rate no matter what your stats are. Gathering only determines whether or not the fish will get away when it does bite, and perception only affects HQ rate. The only thing that affects what fish will bite are bait, time, and weather. Wearing lower level gear just gimps your stats for no benefit (higher spiritbonding speed is still a valid reason to do it, though).

I thought so too, but I tried it as a last resort, because the rate of getting the damned fish was so extremely low.