Ultimate Fishing Simulator’s first DLC takes us to the clear mountain waters of Moraine Lake.
To say I was impressed with the diversity of fishing available in Ultimate Fishing Simulator would be a bit of an understatement. So needless to say I was happy to fish the virtual waters once again for the games first addition, Moraine Lake. You may be forgiven for thinking that the striking blue waters and mountain scenery are a work of fiction. The truth however is that Moraine Lake is indeed real (located inside Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada). So let’s hop into the newly added canoe and see what the waters have to offer.
The first big offering are the additional species added with the lake. New to the “roster” are Golden Trout, Tiger Trout, Sauger, Walleye and Yellow Perch. They aren’t the only thing in the lake but do add some variety to the mix. So that is a positive as is the inclusion of both Summer and Winter settings. I stuck to the Summer this go around as even the thought of ice fishing, virtual or not, makes me shiver. That was probably a good decision as Moraine Lake has some rather distinctive scenery, distinctive enough that it’s even been featured on Canadian money from time to time.
The mesmerizing blue glacial waters nestled high in the mountains off such a serene setting that I didn’t even feel that turning on the in-game radio service was appropriate. The lake size is a bit deceptive, 120 acres (50, ha) isn’t very large at all, but the slower mode of travel in a canoe can make it feel rather massive at times. That’s not an issue but I did find out, the hard way no less, that not quite all of the lake is accessible. After casting a few lines in the water I decided to make my way to towards the far corner of the lake. I was simply looking for some shade where the mountains meet the treeline. After a long and slow paddle I neared my preferred fishing spot only to be told to turn around and that I was leaving the fishing area. That was pretty disappointing, especially considering I was a heck of a lot closer to where I wanted to be, but there was still a good bit of water between me and my destination.
This wasn’t all bad though. I had been fishing mostly along the edge of the mountain and picking up the occasional Sauger along the way and was ready for some of those Trout. Turning towards the shore I went on a nice run of Golden Trout and Brown Trout. The Golden Trout sure are pretty, but let’s be honest, this is one time where size really does matter and they are the largest species around. Luckily there were quite a few massive Brown Trout to be had. Throw in the occasional Walleye and there was a fairly good representation of what amounted to a good day on the virtual waters. Interestingly if it were a real life expedition I would have certainly remembered any of those hybrid Tiger Trout, yet in this setting catching one in a game that let’s you fish for lots of things you may never have the opportunity to catch doesn’t seem as special. In fact, while I’m fairly certain I did land one or two, I for the life of me can’t recall the event specifically.
As far as a paid addition to the game goes? Well, it’s hard to argue against it. In fact it seems very much like the perfect amount of content for the price. Value of course is always the most subjective of things, but I have a hunch most would feel as though the $4.99 price tag is a fair ask.
So to summarize, the Moraine Lake DLC is a good looking and fun addition at a reasonable price. It’s the perfect pick up for those who already have got to experience the joy that is Ultimate Fishing Simulator.
Ultimate Fishing Simulator: Moraine Lake is available now on PC via Steam.
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