diff --git a/art/exported/characters/base/netfishing_base_character.glb b/art/exported/characters/base/netfishing_base_character.glb
index 679fd69..71373ea 100644
Binary files a/art/exported/characters/base/netfishing_base_character.glb and b/art/exported/characters/base/netfishing_base_character.glb differ
diff --git a/art/source/characters/base/netfishing_character_source.blend b/art/source/characters/base/netfishing_character_source.blend
index 2d419f7..de588af 100644
Binary files a/art/source/characters/base/netfishing_character_source.blend and b/art/source/characters/base/netfishing_character_source.blend differ
diff --git a/fishing/fishing_spot.gd b/fishing/fishing_spot.gd
index f437c26..cf8da57 100644
--- a/fishing/fishing_spot.gd
+++ b/fishing/fishing_spot.gd
@@ -363,15 +363,15 @@ func handle_escape_action() -> bool:
 
 
 func set_local_menu_input_suppressed(
-	owner: StringName,
+	input_owner: StringName,
 	suppressed: bool,
 ) -> void:
-	if owner.is_empty():
+	if input_owner.is_empty():
 		return
 	if suppressed:
-		_local_menu_input_owners[owner] = true
+		_local_menu_input_owners[input_owner] = true
 	else:
-		_local_menu_input_owners.erase(owner)
+		_local_menu_input_owners.erase(input_owner)
 	if suppressed and state == FishingState.WAITING_FOR_BITE:
 		_withdrawal_input_held = false
 		_stop_reeling_audio()
@@ -627,6 +627,7 @@ func _begin_aiming(player: PlayerType) -> void:
 	_cast_charge = 0.0
 	_cast_target = _calculate_cast_target(minimum_cast_distance)
 	state = FishingState.AIMING_CAST
+	_active_player.set_casting_visual()
 	status_changed.emit("")
 	_cast_path_is_clear = is_cast_path_clear(
 		_get_cast_launch_position(),
@@ -813,6 +814,8 @@ func _confirm_cast() -> void:
 		# released so the active bobber/fishing event remains anchored.
 		_active_player.set_movement_enabled(false)
 	state = FishingState.CASTING
+	if _active_player != null:
+		_active_player.set_release_visual()
 	status_changed.emit("")
 	_presentation.begin_cast(
 		_cast_target,
@@ -1102,7 +1105,7 @@ func _on_catch_encounter_updated(
 	barrier_health: PackedInt32Array,
 	barrier_max_health: PackedInt32Array,
 	active_barrier_index: int,
-	visible: bool,
+	encounter_visible: bool,
 ) -> void:
 	catch_display_changed.emit(
 		progress,
@@ -1111,9 +1114,9 @@ func _on_catch_encounter_updated(
 		barrier_health,
 		barrier_max_health,
 		active_barrier_index,
-		visible
+		encounter_visible
 	)
-	if state != FishingState.FIGHTING or not visible:
+	if state != FishingState.FIGHTING or not encounter_visible:
 		return
 
 
diff --git a/fishing/remote_fishing_presentation.gd b/fishing/remote_fishing_presentation.gd
index 22b1859..980a298 100644
--- a/fishing/remote_fishing_presentation.gd
+++ b/fishing/remote_fishing_presentation.gd
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ func show_cast(origin: Vector3, target: Vector3) -> void:
 	_bobber.visible = true
 	_line.visible = true
 	_owner.set_active_item_is_rod(true)
+	_owner.set_release_visual()
 	_redraw_line()
 	_cast_tween = create_tween()
 	_cast_tween.set_trans(Tween.TRANS_SINE)
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ func show_bite() -> void:
 func play_return(showcase_catch: FishCatch = null) -> void:
 	if _owner != null and is_instance_valid(_owner):
 		_owner.set_fighting_visual(false)
+		_owner.set_fishing_visual(false)
 	if not _active or _bobber == null:
 		cleanup()
 		return_completed.emit()
@@ -135,6 +137,7 @@ func cleanup() -> void:
 	_bobber_idle_elapsed = 0.0
 	if _owner != null and is_instance_valid(_owner):
 		_owner.set_fighting_visual(false)
+		_owner.set_fishing_visual(false)
 		_owner.end_catch_showcase(Callable(), true)
 	if _bobber != null:
 		_bobber.visible = false
@@ -162,6 +165,8 @@ func _set_cast_sample(
 func _on_cast_finished() -> void:
 	_cast_tween = null
 	_bobber_idle_elapsed = 0.0
+	if _owner != null and is_instance_valid(_owner):
+		_owner.set_fishing_visual(true)
 	_apply_bobber_idle_motion()
 	_redraw_line()
 
diff --git a/player/player.gd b/player/player.gd
index 301d82c..5e2176f 100644
--- a/player/player.gd
+++ b/player/player.gd
@@ -41,10 +41,19 @@ const CHARACTER_IDLE_SIT_ANIMATION: StringName = &"idle_sit"
 const CHARACTER_IDLE_SIT_SHOW_ANIMATION: StringName = &"idle_sit_show"
 const CHARACTER_WALKING_ANIMATION: StringName = &"walking"
 const CHARACTER_WALKING_SHOW_ANIMATION: StringName = &"walking_show"
+const CHARACTER_CASTING_ANIMATION: StringName = &"casting"
+const CHARACTER_RELEASE_ANIMATION: StringName = &"release"
 const CHARACTER_FISHING_ANIMATION: StringName = &"fishing"
 const CHARACTER_FISHING_SIT_ANIMATION: StringName = &"fishing_sit"
 const CHARACTER_FIGHTING_ANIMATION: StringName = &"fighting"
 const CHARACTER_FIGHTING_SIT_ANIMATION: StringName = &"fighting_sit"
+
+enum FishingVisualPhase {
+	NONE,
+	CASTING,
+	RELEASE,
+	FISHING,
+}
 const FIGHTING_EYES_ID: String = "alligator_eyes"
 const BASE_REEL_SPEED: float = 0.16
 # The target Android handheld exposes its physical right trigger through
@@ -121,9 +130,24 @@ func set_fighting_visual(active: bool) -> void:
 
 
 func set_fishing_visual(active: bool) -> void:
-	if _fishing_visual_active == active:
+	_set_fishing_visual_phase(
+		FishingVisualPhase.FISHING if active else FishingVisualPhase.NONE
+	)
+
+
+func set_casting_visual() -> void:
+	_set_fishing_visual_phase(FishingVisualPhase.CASTING)
+
+
+func set_release_visual() -> void:
+	_set_fishing_visual_phase(FishingVisualPhase.RELEASE)
+
+
+func _set_fishing_visual_phase(phase: FishingVisualPhase) -> void:
+	if _fishing_visual_phase == phase:
 		return
-	_fishing_visual_active = active
+	_fishing_visual_phase = phase
+	_fishing_visual_active = phase != FishingVisualPhase.NONE
 	_character_animation_name = &""
 	_update_character_animation()
 
@@ -283,8 +307,12 @@ var _held_fish_visible: bool = false
 var _showcase_animation_active: bool = false
 var _fighting_visual_active: bool = false
 var _fishing_visual_active: bool = false
+var _fishing_visual_phase: FishingVisualPhase = FishingVisualPhase.NONE
 var _fishing_rod: Node3D
 var _fishing_rod_tip: Marker3D
+var _fishing_rod_skeleton: Skeleton3D
+var _fishing_rod_hand_bone: int = -1
+var _fishing_rod_relative_basis: Basis = Basis.IDENTITY
 var _controller_mapping_manager: ControllerMappingManagerType
 
 
@@ -334,6 +362,38 @@ func _initialize_fishing_rod() -> void:
 	_fishing_rod_tip = attachment.get_node(
 		"FishingRod/FishingRodTip"
 	) as Marker3D
+	_fishing_rod_skeleton = skeleton
+	_fishing_rod_hand_bone = skeleton.find_bone(&"hand.R")
+	if _fishing_rod_hand_bone < 0:
+		push_error("Player character right-hand bone is unavailable.")
+		return
+	_fishing_rod_relative_basis = (
+		skeleton.global_basis.orthonormalized().inverse()
+		* _fishing_rod.global_basis.orthonormalized()
+	)
+	_fishing_rod.top_level = true
+	_sync_fishing_rod_transform()
+
+
+func _sync_fishing_rod_transform() -> void:
+	if (
+		_fishing_rod == null
+		or _fishing_rod_skeleton == null
+		or _fishing_rod_hand_bone < 0
+	):
+		return
+	var skeleton_transform := _fishing_rod_skeleton.global_transform
+	var hand_pose := _fishing_rod_skeleton.get_bone_global_pose(
+		_fishing_rod_hand_bone
+	)
+	var fixed_basis := (
+		skeleton_transform.basis.orthonormalized()
+		* _fishing_rod_relative_basis
+	)
+	_fishing_rod.global_transform = Transform3D(
+		fixed_basis.scaled(skeleton_transform.basis.get_scale().abs()),
+		(skeleton_transform * hand_pose).origin,
+	)
 
 
 func _initialize_held_item_attachment() -> void:
@@ -363,6 +423,7 @@ func _initialize_held_item_attachment() -> void:
 
 
 func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
+	_sync_fishing_rod_transform()
 	if _network_interpolation_enabled:
 		_update_network_interpolation(delta)
 		return
@@ -455,6 +516,7 @@ func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
 
 
 func _process(delta: float) -> void:
+	_sync_fishing_rod_transform()
 	_update_character_animation()
 	# The hand bone supplies the attachment position, but its animated wrist
 	# rotation should not turn the flat fish/catch artwork edge-on. Keep each
@@ -588,10 +650,24 @@ func _update_character_animation() -> void:
 				&"idle_sit_loop",
 			]
 		else:
-			requested_animation = [
-				CHARACTER_FISHING_ANIMATION,
-				CHARACTER_IDLE_ANIMATION,
-			]
+			match _fishing_visual_phase:
+				FishingVisualPhase.CASTING:
+					requested_animation = [
+						CHARACTER_CASTING_ANIMATION,
+						CHARACTER_FISHING_ANIMATION,
+						CHARACTER_IDLE_ANIMATION,
+					]
+				FishingVisualPhase.RELEASE:
+					requested_animation = [
+						CHARACTER_RELEASE_ANIMATION,
+						CHARACTER_FISHING_ANIMATION,
+						CHARACTER_IDLE_ANIMATION,
+					]
+				_:
+					requested_animation = [
+						CHARACTER_FISHING_ANIMATION,
+						CHARACTER_IDLE_ANIMATION,
+					]
 	elif _sitting:
 		if _held_fish_visible:
 			requested_animation = [