To get the Golden Scale in the Ocarina of Time remake, go to the Fishing Pond at Lake Hylia as adult Link and catch a fish of 70cm or longer without the Sinking Lure. The owner gives you the Golden Scale as the prize, and it lets Link dive deeper than any other scale.
It is the second of two diving upgrades. Young Link wins the Silver Scale first, from the diving game in Zora’s Domain, and the Golden Scale replaces it seven years later. Below is how to get both, and the Piece of Heart the Golden Scale opens up.
The Two Scales
| Scale | Who gives it | Which Link | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Scale | The diving game Zora, Zora’s Domain | Young Link | Lets Link dive much deeper than he can at the start |
| Golden Scale | The Fishing Pond owner, Lake Hylia | Adult Link | Lets Link dive deeper still |
The Silver Scale is part of the main story: you need it to dive through the tunnel to Lake Hylia, where Princess Ruto’s letter lies on the lake bed. Our Princess Ruto guide walks through winning the diving game. The Golden Scale is optional, but it is the only way to one Piece of Heart.
Step by Step: Win the Golden Scale
- Travel to Lake Hylia as adult Link. Follow Hyrule Field south to the lake and head for the Fishing Pond hut on the shore.
- Pay the owner for a rod. It costs 30 rupees and rents the rod for as long as you want to fish.
- Know the target. Aim for a fish of 70cm or longer. The remake measures fish by length, where the 1998 game weighed them and asked adult Link for 13 pounds.
- Use the plain lure. In the 1998 game the owner refused prizes for fish caught with the hidden Sinking Lure.
- Hunt for a big fish. The bigger fish tend to sit in the deeper water toward the middle of the pond, around the sunken log. Cast past one and reel the lure across its path.
- Land it and take it to the owner. A fish that size wins the Golden Scale.
If you have not fished yet, our guide on how to fish covers casting, setting the hook and tiring a fish out. Young Link’s record wins a Piece of Heart at the same pond, so if you still need that one, do it on a visit in the past.
Use It: The Lakeside Laboratory Heart Piece
The Golden Scale pays for itself straight away. Next to the lake is the Lakeside Laboratory, and its indoor tank is deeper than any scale but the gold one can reach.
- Walk into the laboratory and jump into the tank.
- Dive and swim all the way to the bottom.
- Surface and talk to the scientist.
He rewards the dive with a Piece of Heart. It is number 30 in our Heart Piece guide, which lists all 36 for the remake.
Tips
- Bring rupees. Each visit to the pond costs a fee, and a stubborn fish can take several. Our rupee guide covers where to top up.
- Swimming is faster in the remake. Nintendo’s changes include a quicker swim and a dash while swimming, which makes the trip down the laboratory tank less of a breath-holding contest. Our list of everything that changed has the rest.
- The Iron Boots are not the same thing. They sink Link to the bottom of deep water, but they are the Water Temple’s tool, not a scale, and the scientist’s challenge is about diving.
- Ignore the loach for this. The pond’s giant Hylian Loach is a separate challenge; our Hylian Loach guide covers it.
Every remake guide is on our Zelda hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you get the Golden Scale in the Ocarina of Time remake? From the Fishing Pond owner at Lake Hylia, as the prize for adult Link catching a fish of 70cm or longer.
Can young Link get the Golden Scale? No. Young Link’s fishing prize is a Piece of Heart. The Golden Scale is the adult prize.
What does the Golden Scale do? It lets Link dive deeper than the Silver Scale allows, deep enough to reach the bottom of the Lakeside Laboratory tank.
Is the Golden Scale required to finish the game? No. It is optional, but it is the only way to get the laboratory’s Piece of Heart.
How do you get the Silver Scale? Win the diving game near the waterfall in Zora’s Domain as young Link.