You may or may not be aware of the existence of an elusive fish in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”, the Hylian loach (which is actually referenced when you catch a loach in the first “Animal Crossing”). I am not certain how I came about knowledge of this particular fish, nor do I know what, if anything, you get from catching it. As far as I can tell, nothing. Nothing but the satisfaction of telling people, “Hey, guess what, I caught it.” Nevertheless, as with all secrets, once I learned about this thing, I knew I had to try my hand at catching it.

Unfortunately, I am actually better at catching fish in real life than I am in video games. Quite ironic, really, as quite the opposite is true in most situations. For example, I am far more adept at sword fighting and welding magic in video games than I am in real life. (What’s that, you aren’t able to wield magic in real life at all?)

Anyway, if you’ve ever gone fishing in “Ocarina of Time”, you’ll no doubt know that it’s a rather tedious affair. Or not. I thought it was, though. I don’t even remember the process exactly, I just know that it makes little sense, and I rarely am ever able to catch anything. I believe rewards are given out for catching big fish, though, and I did manage to procure these rewards for myself on most of my playthroughs, when I cared enough to bother.

As bothersome as most fish are to catch, however, the Hylian loach is, as you’d expect, supposed to be the most difficult. This one requires the use of a special lure, the Sinking Lure, I believe, that you can find in several spots about the pond. This lure, if I recall correctly, can only be used once, so if you fail, you have no other choice but to find it again. Well, I searched about the pond, and I finally found the special lure, leaving me with one final task: actually catching the Hylian loach. I believe it hangs about in several spots about the pond, but I think the easiest place to catch it is under the lily pads. (And I vaguely recall a trick where you wear the Iron Boots and Zora Tunic and stand at the bottom of the pond when you try and catch the fish. I am not certain whether or not I tried this method or not, however, as it was many years ago. I think I might have.) One way or another, I managed to spot it, and that alone was pretty cool, as I never knew, in all my years of owning the game, that this fish even existed. And yet, there it was, and it makes me wonder how often I passed it by time and time again with no knowledge this legendary fish was not far away. With the loach in my sights, I threw out my lure, and I waited.

And I waited and waited. Just like with real fishing. And then it bit, and I started to reel it in, and I was doing quite a splendid job of it at first, and I became certain that I would catch the fabled Hylian loach, after all. And then, without warning, it let go and swam off, leaving me quite displeased and sad all at once. And while it wouldn’t have been terribly difficult to, you know, try again, I didn’t. I just didn’t. Because I hate fishing. In every game in existence, I hate it. Because I’m crud at it. And I just refuse to put myself through such minor misery again. I refuse. But, at least I tried. And I have also heard that there is apparently a Hylian loach in “Twilight Princess”, as well, that I could try to catch one day. But, I really don’t think I care enough to bother. Especially since I heard that one’s even harder. Have I not suffered enough?!

And that, dear readers, is how the Hylian loach became the one that got away. But, before I go, a video.

Video from Youtube User: Zelda Wiki

The Hylian Duck, Which is Far Less Elusive, But Even Harder to Catch…Because I Bite