How to get all the samples from Twisted Strand for the Scientist in Dredge: The Iron Rig

While playing through the storyline for The Iron Rig in Dredge, you’ll eventually reach the point where, despite what the rig’s crew believe, drilling commences and causes the same dark ooze you’ve seen everywhere else to rise up in Twisted Strand.

As you’ll know by now, the oily substance that you’re starting to get the feeling isn’t quite oil brings with it all sorts of fish you’ve never seen before. Of course, the rig’s Scientist is incredibly interested in these creatures and wants you to head out right away to collect a specimen of each one. If you’ve started a new playthrough in Dredge for The Iron Rig DLC as I did, or you’re just not all the way through the base game’s story, you’ll need to prepare before you can do this.

How to get all the samples from Twisted Strand for the Scientist in Dredge: The Iron Rig

Before you can head out and collect all the samples needed for the Scientist from Twisted Strand in Dredge: The Iron Rig, you’ll need the right gear. Head to the rig and speak to the Engineer in the Factory so you can find the Infused Coiling Rod.

To buy this new rod, you’ll need to provide the Engineer with an Ironhaven Crate, a Dark Canister, and an Anti-Tangle Line. You can purchase the basic Mangrove rod required here from any Shipyard once you’ve progressed the Stellar Basin main quest to the point where you’ve found the experimental technology.

With the Infused Coiling Rod in hand, you must head out to Twisted Strand. The first thing I recommend doing is dumping a crab pot somewhere in one of the dark splotches of ooze in the biome. It’ll take a while to catch the crab you need, but if you drop the pot first, it’ll do all the hard work while you worry about finding the fish.

From there, all you need to do is sail around each dark patch of water and fish in the dark, disturbed spots to catch the three fish the Scientist needs. One of these requires a rod with upgraded shallow fishing capabilities, so use the one you got for the Scientist’s previous requests in The Marrows or Gale Cliffs to help you there. Otherwise, your Infused Coiling Rod will help you with those fish in Mangrove waters. I’ve listed every fish you need to catch below.

• Opabinia
• Boreaspis
• Xinphactinus
• Nipponites

When you return to the Scientist with your samples from Twisted Strand in Dredge: The Iron Rig, you’ll find that he’s become even more distracted. The samples you deliver are strange, but he’s growing stranger every time you complete a task for him. I won’t spoil what follows, but things escalate significantly once you complete this Pursuit.