How to Fish in Stardew Valley？

Preparation

Get a fishing rod

On the second day of spring in the game, you'll receive a letter from Willy. Go to the beach to find him, and he'll give you a bamboo fishing rod. As your fishing level increases, you can buy more advanced fishing rods like the Training Rod, Fiberglass Rod, and Iridium Rod from Willy's shop.

Prepare bait

Regular bait can be made from bug meat. It can increase the chance of fish biting and reduce the possibility of catching trash. The universal bait can be crafted using the recipe given by Linus, which increases the chance of catching a fish by 25%. The magic bait can be purchased in the Krobus' shop in the Sewers and allows you to catch fish from all seasons regardless of weather conditions.

Understand fish habits

Different fish appear in different seasons, locations, and weather. For example, in spring, you're more likely to catch bass, catfish, etc. in rivers; in summer, you can catch sardines, tuna, etc. by the seaside; and in autumn, there may be salmon, walleye, etc. in lakes.

Fishing Process

Choose the location and time

Different locations have different fish distributions. You have a higher chance of catching rare fish in places like the ocean and deep lakes, while it's harder to catch rare fish in the small pond near your home. Some fish are only active during the day or at night, so you need to choose the right time according to the habits of the target fish.

Cast the line

Equip your fishing rod and stand close to the water. Press and hold the corresponding casting button (left mouse button on PC, and different buttons on different console platforms). An green energy bar will appear on the screen, representing the strength used for casting. The longer the green bar is, the farther the fishing line is cast, and the greater the probability of catching a fish.

Hook a fish

When an exclamation mark appears above your character's head, it means a fish has bitten. Immediately click to set the hook.

Reel in the fish

A progress bar will appear on the right side of the screen with the shape of a fish in the middle. You need to click the button to make the green bar precisely cover the fish until the progress bar is filled, and then you've successfully caught the fish.

Fishing Tips

Master the rhythm

You can control the rise and fall of the green bar by slowly clicking and releasing or continuously clicking quickly. The former can quickly raise the bar to catch up with the fast movement of the fish, while the latter can keep the bar at a fixed level when the fish is stationary.

Use items

After reaching level 3 in fishing, you can unlock the crab pot in the crafting menu. Place it in the small text here: crab pot in the crafting menu. Place it in the water and put bait in it to harvest resources and gain fishing experience.

Upgrade skills and equipment

Increasing your fishing skill level can improve the success rate of fishing and the probability of catching rare fish. It also unlocks more fishing-related items and functions. Buying better fishing rods, bait and other equipment can also improve fishing efficiency.