Fishing in Stardew Valley is a leisurely experience for some and absolutely infuriating for others, but this guide will help cut through some of the obscurity regarding how to approach it.
For better or worse, Stardew Valley throws players into the deep end right at the start of the game. Probably the greatest example of that in the game is fishing. As soon as players get a rod they can start casting lines, but some of the fish they hook will be too wild to reel in early on. Many players never actually recover from this experience and wind up loathing the fishing mini-game because of this.
So how should players approach fishing in Stardew Valley? Here’s a full breakdown.
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Can you make fishing easier in Stardew Valley?
Players can get the Training Rod if they find fishing in Stardew Valley to be overly challenging.
While players initially receive the Bamboo Pole from Willy, they have an alternative option that can be purchased from him for 25g. The Training Rod makes it significantly easier to catch fish, but prevents players from catching certain rare fish. It also gives players the basic quality of fish, making fishing less lucrative.
The benefit is that the Training Rod makes it significantly easier to actually catch fish in Stardew Valley. The fishing bar is larger as players wrestle with the fish, and the progress bar will deplete more slowly. XP from catching fish is the same regardless, making this a great way to get levels for those who are struggling with the Stardew Valley fishing mini-game.
Unfortunately for players who don’t enjoy the fishing experience, the real key to making fishing easier is raising the skill to level six. The fishing bar expands as players level up, making it much easier to catch fish with jerky motions. Just as importantly, level six unlocks access to the Iridium Rod. This is a major upgrade over the Fiberglass Rod and Bamboo Pole, as it allows players to equip tackle.
Once players hit level seven, they unlock the recipe for the Cork Bobber. This piece of tackle expands the fishing bar even further, making it easier to catch particularly difficult fish like the Legendary fish.
How to equip lures and tackle in Stardew Valley on PC, PlayStation, and Switch
Stardew Valley players can equip lures and tackle to their fishing line through the item menu. The exact inputs vary based on the platform, but are generally similar.
Here’s how to equip lures and tackle on each platform:
- PC: Open the item menu, left-click on the bait or tackle, right-click on the fishing pole
- Nintendo Switch: Open the item menu, press A on bait or tackle, press Y on fishing pole
- PlayStation: Open the item menu, press X on bait or tackle, press square on fishing pole
- Xbox: Open the item menu, press A on bait or tackle, press X on fishing pole
It’s important to note that not every fishing pole can be equipped with bait and tackle. In Stardew Valley, players unlock the ability to equip lures and tackle based on what rod they’re using. The first fishing pole players receive is the Bamboo Pole, which doesn’t have the ability to equip lures or tackle. As players get upgraded poles, this changes. Here’s the game’s progression:
- Level 1 Fishing: Bamboo Pole (None)
- Level 2 Fishing: Fiberglass Rod (1 lure, 0 tackle)
- Level 6 Fishing: Iridium Rod (1 lure, 1 tackle)
- Fishing Mastery: Advanced Iridium Rod (1 lure, 2 tackle)
Because the higher quality rods are gated behind the player’s fishing level, there’s an exponential progression to fishing in Stardew Valley.
The best fishing spots in Stardew Valley, based on season
One of the toughest part of Stardew Valley is filling up bundles. This isn’t tough due to actual mechanical difficulty, just the inevitability of missing something and then having to wait for full seasons to pass to be able to get it again. Because of that, there’s a defined best spot to fish in each season of Stardew Valley:
- Spring: River
- Summer: Ocean
- Fall: River/Ocean
- Winter: Ocean
While this guideline is based on the number of fish found in community center bundles that are exclusive to certain seasons, the exact best option will vary as players progress in the game.
The precise best spot to have the hook land is as far away from a shore as possible. While casting a line into the ocean from the docks is straightforward, things are trickier when it comes to the river and lakes. Even if a line is cast further from the player, if it lands closer to a shoreline, it won’t yield ideal fish. Players need to make sure they land their hook as far away from the shore as possible, even if they’re not casting as far.
All seasonal community center bundle fish, and where to find them
Players are well-served knowing all the fish that are locked to certain seasons as they advance in the game. This allows them to have something of a checklist that can prevent missing out on a fish. Here’s a breakdown of all the fish found in community center bundles and where they can be found:
- Spring
- River: Sunfish (sunny), Catfish, Shad
- Ocean: Sardine, Eel (rain)
- Summer
- River: Sunfish (sunny), Shad
- Ocean: Tuna, Red Snapper (rain), Tilapia, Pufferfish
- Mountain Lake: Sturgeon
- Secret Woods: Catfish (rain)
- Fall
- River: Catfish, Shad, Tiger Trout, Walleye
- Ocean: Sardine, Red Snapper (rain), Tilapia, Eel (rain)
- Mountain Lake: Walleye
- Forest Pond: Walleye
- Winter
- River: Tiger Trout
- Ocean: Sardine, Tuna
- Mountain Lake: Sturgeon
Alongside season restrictions, many fish can only be caught under other conditions. Players who want to catch a sturgeon to complete the bundle or make caviar need to head to the mountain lake at a certain time during summer or winter. Catching eels in Stardew Valley takes things a step further by adding season, time, and weather requirements.
