Hook, Line, and Sinker: A Complete Guide to Catching Walleye in Stardew Valley
Walleye, a prized fish in Stardew Valley, can be a bit tricky to catch if you don’t know the ropes. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive walkthrough on how to reliably catch Walleye, maximizing your chances of adding this valuable fish to your collection (or selling it for a hefty profit!). We’ll cover everything from the best locations and times to fish, to the equipment you’ll need and strategies to master the fishing mini-game.
## What Makes Walleye Special?
Walleye aren’t just another fish in Stardew Valley; they’re valuable for several reasons:
* **Selling Price:** Walleye sell for a decent price, making them a reliable source of income, especially in the early to mid-game. The base price is 105g, increasing with quality (Silver: 131g, Gold: 157g).
* **Community Center Bundle:** Walleye are needed for the River Fish Bundle in the Community Center, which rewards you with Bait. Completing bundles is crucial for restoring the Community Center and unlocking various perks.
* **Recipes:** Walleye are used in a couple of recipes. Completing recipes contributes to in-game achievements and can also provide helpful buffs.
* **Gifting:** Some villagers like receiving Walleye as gifts, increasing your friendship with them.
## When and Where to Find Walleye
Walleye have specific conditions that need to be met before you can catch them:
* **Season:** Walleye can only be caught during the **Fall** season. No amount of fishing in other seasons will yield a Walleye (without using Magic Bait, which we’ll discuss later).
* **Weather:** Walleye only appear when it’s **raining**. Sunny days are a no-go. Rain is your best friend when Walleye fishing.
* **Time of Day:** You can only catch Walleye between **12 PM (noon) and 2 AM**. They’re not morning fish!
* **Location:** The best places to find Walleye are the **river** (in town or in the Cindersap Forest) and the **lake** (near Marnie’s Ranch). The lake, especially near the southwest corner with deeper water, tends to be more productive.
Let’s break down each element in more detail:
### The Importance of Fall
Fall is your prime Walleye season. Mark your calendar! There’s no way to catch Walleye outside of Fall naturally. If you’re serious about Walleye fishing, make sure you have plenty of time dedicated to it during the Fall season.
### Rainy Days are Key
Rain is absolutely essential. Without rain, Walleye simply won’t appear. Check the weather forecast on the television in your farmhouse every morning. If rain is predicted, get your fishing gear ready! If it’s Fall and raining, it’s Walleye time!
### Noon to 2 AM: Walleye’s Active Hours
This is a large window of opportunity. Make sure you’re fishing between these hours. You can use the in-game clock to track the time. You don’t need to be fishing *precisely* at noon, but get there soon after and stay until 2 AM to maximize your catches.
### Location, Location, Location
* **The River (Town):** The river that runs through Pelican Town is a viable spot. The areas near the bridge and the fishing shop are often good starting points.
* **The River (Cindersap Forest):** The river in the Cindersap Forest (south of your farm) is another excellent location. Head south from your farm exit and follow the river. Experiment with different spots to find the best fishing holes. A good spot is near where the river meets the lake. This area can lead to a greater variety of fish, including Walleye.
* **The Lake:** The lake is generally considered the best location for Walleye. Try fishing near the southwest corner, near where the water is deeper. This area often yields higher quality fish, including Gold-quality Walleye.
**Why These Locations?**
Walleye prefer deeper water. The river and lake provide this. The southwest corner of the lake offers some of the deepest water in the game. Fish spawn points are also determined by the game, which means certain spots simply have a higher chance of spawning the fish you’re looking for.
## Essential Equipment for Walleye Fishing
Having the right equipment will significantly increase your chances of catching Walleye.
* **Fishing Rod:** This is the most basic and essential piece of equipment. You’ll start with the Bamboo Pole, but you’ll want to upgrade as soon as possible.
* **Fiberglass Rod:** This rod becomes available for purchase from Willy’s Fish Shop for 1,800g once you reach Fishing Level 2. It allows you to use bait, which is crucial for attracting Walleye.
* **Iridium Rod:** This is the best rod in the game, available for 7,500g from Willy’s Fish Shop once you reach Fishing Level 6. It allows you to use both bait and tackle.
* **Bait:** Bait significantly increases your chances of getting a bite and reduces the time it takes for fish to appear. There are several types of bait, but regular bait is sufficient for catching Walleye.
* **Bait:** This can be crafted from Bug Meat (obtained by killing bugs in the Mines) or purchased from Willy’s Fish Shop for 5g each.
* **Wild Bait:** This bait can be crafted after reaching Fishing Level 4. The recipe is 1 Bug Meat, 1 Fiber, 1 Slime. This bait can cause fish to bite *twice* as often.
* **Tackle:** Tackle provides various benefits, such as making the fishing mini-game easier or increasing your chances of finding treasure. This requires the Iridium Rod.
* **Spinner:** Increases the bite rate of fish. A good general choice.
* **Weighted Fly:** Slightly increases the fishing bar’s size, making it easier to catch fish.
* **Cork Bobber:** Significantly increases the fishing bar’s size.
* **Trap Bobber:** Makes fish escape slower, providing more time to react during the fishing mini-game.
* **Treasure Hunter:** Increases the chance of finding treasure chests while fishing. However, this can make it more difficult to catch the fish itself.
* **Barbed Hook:** The fishing bar sticks to the fish, making it harder for them to escape. Can be difficult to use, as it requires precise movements.
* **Bobber:** All fishing rods need a bobber. It’s attached automatically.
## Leveling Up Your Fishing Skill
The higher your fishing skill, the easier it will be to catch Walleye. Here’s how to level up your fishing skill:
* **Fishing:** The most obvious way is to simply fish! Every fish you catch grants experience points.
* **Crab Pots:** Placing and harvesting from crab pots also grants fishing experience.
* **Fishing-Related Professions:** At Fishing Level 5 and 10, you’ll get to choose professions that boost your fishing abilities. At Level 5, the *Fisher* profession increases the selling price of fish by 25%. At Level 10, you can choose between *Angler* (fish are worth 50% more) or *Pirate* (chance to find treasure doubled). The *Fisher* and *Angler* professions are better for making money, while the *Pirate* profession can be fun for finding valuable items.
* **Eating Food with Fishing Buffs:** Certain foods provide temporary buffs to your fishing skill. These can make it easier to catch fish, especially challenging ones like the Legend. Some examples:
* **Dish O’ The Sea:** This recipe (requires Fishing Level 3) provides +3 to your fishing skill.
* **Seafoam Pudding:** This recipe (requires Fishing Level 4) provides +4 to your fishing skill. This is one of the best fishing buffs in the game.
* **Lobster Bisque:** Provides +3 Fishing and +50 Max Energy.
## Mastering the Fishing Mini-Game
The fishing mini-game can be challenging, especially when you’re first starting out. Here’s how it works and tips for improving your skills:
1. **Casting Your Line:** Press the action button (usually the right mouse button or a controller button) to cast your line. The longer you hold the button, the further you’ll cast. Try to cast your line into areas with deeper water or where you see bubbles rising, as these often indicate fish spawn points.
2. **Waiting for a Bite:** Once your line is in the water, wait for a fish to bite. You’ll know a fish has bitten when you see the exclamation mark (!) appear above your character’s head, and you’ll hear a distinct sound. Immediately press the action button to hook the fish.
3. **The Fishing Mini-Game:** After hooking the fish, the fishing mini-game will begin. A vertical bar will appear on the right side of the screen, and a small green bar will move up and down within it. Your goal is to keep the fish icon within the green bar.
4. **Controlling the Green Bar:** Tap the action button to move the green bar upwards. The longer you hold the button, the faster the bar will rise. Release the button to let the bar fall. You need to find the right balance between tapping and releasing to keep the fish within the green bar.
5. **The Progress Bar:** At the bottom of the screen, there’s a progress bar. If you keep the fish within the green bar, the progress bar will fill up. If the fish escapes the green bar, the progress bar will decrease. Once the progress bar is completely full, you’ll catch the fish. If the progress bar empties, the fish will escape.
6. **Tips for Success:**
* **Practice Makes Perfect:** The more you fish, the better you’ll become at the mini-game. Don’t get discouraged if you fail at first. Keep practicing, and you’ll eventually get the hang of it.
* **Small Taps:** Use small, controlled taps to move the green bar. Avoid holding the button down for too long, as this can cause the bar to overshoot the fish.
* **React Quickly:** React quickly when the fish changes direction. Anticipate its movements and adjust the green bar accordingly.
* **Use Tackle:** Tackle like the Trap Bobber and Cork Bobber can make the mini-game significantly easier.
* **Eat Food with Fishing Buffs:** These buffs increase the size of the green bar, giving you more room for error.
* **Pay Attention to Fish Behavior:** Some fish have erratic movements, while others are more predictable. Pay attention to how the fish moves and adjust your strategy accordingly.
## Advanced Techniques and Tips
Here are some more advanced techniques and tips to help you become a Walleye-catching master:
* **Magic Bait:** This special type of bait allows you to catch fish regardless of the weather, time of day, or season. It’s crafted from 1 Slime, 1 Fiber, 1 Bug Meat, and 1 Radioactive Ore. This is incredibly useful for catching Walleye outside of Fall, or on sunny days. The Radioactive Ore is the main limiting factor, as it’s found in the Skull Cavern after activating the dangerous mines quest. If you have access to Radioactive Ore, this will solve *all* your Walleye-catching problems.
* **Fishing in Different Locations:** Experiment with different fishing spots within the river and lake. Some spots may be more productive than others, depending on the day and the game’s random number generator.
* **Casting Distance:** The further you cast your line, the better your chances of catching higher-quality fish. Try to cast your line as far as possible without getting it snagged on anything.
* **Bubbling Spots:** Keep an eye out for bubbling spots in the water. These indicate areas where fish are actively spawning. Casting your line into these spots can significantly increase your chances of getting a bite.
* **The Fishing Treasure Chest:** When fishing, sometimes a treasure chest icon will appear on the fishing bar. To collect it, you have to catch the fish *and* overlap the green bar with the treasure chest. This will sometimes be harder than catching the fish. Tackle like the Treasure Hunter will increase the chances of this appearing.
* **Stacking Fishing Buffs:** The Fishing buffs you get from food can stack with other buffs. For example, the buffs from the tackle and food will stack up. Make sure to get all available benefits to maximize results.
## Using Walleye
Once you’ve caught your Walleye, what can you do with them?
* **Selling:** As mentioned earlier, Walleye sell for a good price. This is a reliable way to earn money, especially in the early to mid-game.
* **Community Center:** Walleye are needed for the River Fish Bundle in the Community Center. Completing this bundle rewards you with Bait.
* **Recipes:** Walleye are used in the following recipes:
* **Tom Kha Soup:** Requires 1 Coconut, 1 Shrimp, 1 Mushroom, and 1 Chili Pepper. Provides +2 to Farming and +30 Max Energy.
* **Lobster Bisque:** Requires 1 Lobster and 1 Milk. Provides +3 Fishing and +50 Max Energy. (Great for catching more Walleye!).
* **Gifting:** Some villagers like receiving Walleye as gifts:
* **Demtrius** – Likes
* **Willy** – Loves
* **Evelyn** – Likes
## Troubleshooting Common Problems
* **Can’t find Walleye:** Make sure it’s Fall, raining, and between 12 PM and 2 AM. If all these conditions are met, you should be able to find Walleye. If not, try using Magic Bait.
* **Fishing mini-game too difficult:** Practice, use tackle, and eat food with fishing buffs to make the mini-game easier.
* **Not getting bites:** Use bait to increase your chances of getting a bite. If you’re still not getting bites, try fishing in a different location or at a different time of day (within the 12 PM to 2 AM window).
## Conclusion
Catching Walleye in Stardew Valley requires understanding their specific conditions and having the right equipment and skills. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to catching plenty of Walleye and reaping the rewards. Good luck and happy fishing!