Stardew Valley: How to Fish

The picturesque landscape of Stardew Valley is flowing with beautiful water bodies, including ponds, lakes, rivers, and even the ocean. These waters are packed with various species of fish, ready to be caught by skilled fishermen. Fishing is one of the many skills a player must learn upon moving to the countryside.

Players can catch a wide variety of fish while enjoying the peaceful ambiance of the game’s natural surroundings. It can also be a reliable and profitable source of income, especially when players level up their Fishing Skills and invest in better equipment.

Updated on April 17, 2024, by Ashely Claudino: Fishing might be a relaxing activity in some games, but many fans will beg to differ when it comes to Stardew Valley. With that in mind, this article has been updated and now contains information on how to make fishing easier in Stardew Valley.

How to Fish in Stardew Valley

To fish in Stardew Valley, players need a Fishing Rod. Unfortunately, the Fishing Rod is not included in the starter tools set a player receives at the beginning of the game. Thankfully, players won’t have to wait long until they get their hands on a free fishing rod.

During their first year, players will receive a letter from Willy on Spring 2, initiating the “To the Beach” quest. Willy, the owner of the Fish Shop at the beach, invites players to visit him before 5 PM. A cutscene will then ensue, and players will receive the Bamboo Pole. Players will also be able to purchase more fishing rods at Willy’s shop, which is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day except Saturdays, unless it rains.

Once players have a fishing rod, they can fish effectively by following these steps:

1. Equip the fishing rod and head to the nearest body of water.
2. Cast the fishing pole into the water by holding down the ‘Use Tool’ button. This varies according to the player’s platform: left-click on PC, X button on Xbox, square button on PlayStation, and Y button on Switch.
3. A meter appears above the character, allowing players to decide how far they want the fishing line to go.
4. Release the button to cast the line into the water.
5. When a fish bites, the bobber visibly starts wiggling. Players will see an exclamation mark above their character’s head and hear a distinctive sound.
6. Next, click on the ‘Use Tool’ button again to begin the Fishing mini-game. The mini-game features a movable green rectangle and a progress bar on the right. The goal of this mini-game is to ensure that the green rectangle remains behind the fish until the progress bar fills completely.
7. To achieve this goal, players need to tap or hold the ‘Use Tool’ button. Repeatedly tapping raises the bar, while releasing lowers it. The fish will try to escape, and players must strive to keep it inside the green bar until the mini-game is complete.

Once players successfully reel in a fish, its name and size will be displayed, and it will be added to their inventory.

How to Make Fishing Easier in Stardew Valley

Players can simplify the fishing process in Stardew Valley with one simple trick. While the fishing mini-game is simple once players get the hang of it, it can be hard to master at first, especially if a higher-difficulty fish bites.

To make fishing easier in Stardew Valley, players should purchase the Training Rod at Willy’s Fish Shop for 25g. While it only allows fans to catch basic, normal-quality fish with a low-difficult level, it grants them as much XP as any other rod, so it makes it easier to level up, which causes the green rectangle’s size to increase. Here is how the Training Rod looks in action:

Eventually, once their Fishing Skill level is high enough, players can change back to the Bamboo Pole, and fans who’d like to invest in fishing can purchase the Fiberglass Rod for 1,800g at Willy’s shop. It’s possible to attach bait to this rod, making fish bite faster.

Stardew Valley

Released

February 26, 2016

Developer(s)

ConcernedApe

Genre(s)

RPG , Simulation

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer , Online Multiplayer