Reel In Success: The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Stardew Valley on Nintendo Switch

Stardew Valley, the charming farming RPG, offers a plethora of activities to keep players engaged, and fishing is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding. Whether you’re looking to complete the Community Center bundles, earn some extra gold, or simply enjoy the peaceful rhythm of the river, mastering the art of fishing is crucial for success in Pelican Town. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of how to fish in Stardew Valley on the Nintendo Switch, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques, ensuring you become a proficient angler.

Getting Started: Your First Fishing Rod

Before you can cast your line, you need a fishing rod. Here’s how you’ll acquire your initial equipment:

1. Day 2 Arrival: On your second day in Stardew Valley, Willy, the local fisherman, will send you a letter inviting you to his shack on the beach.
2. Willy’s Shack: Head south from your farm, past the town, to the beach. You’ll find Willy’s shack near the pier.
3. The Bamboo Pole: Enter Willy’s shack and he will give you the Bamboo Pole, your first fishing rod, free of charge.

Now that you have your rod, it’s time to learn the mechanics of fishing.

The Fundamentals of Fishing

Fishing in Stardew Valley on the Switch is a mini-game based on timing and precision. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the core mechanics:

1. Equip Your Rod: Open your inventory, select the Bamboo Pole or whichever fishing rod you’re using, and press the A button to equip it.
2. Find a Fishing Spot: Head to any body of water – the ocean, rivers, ponds, or even the mines. Look for areas where you see bubbles rising, as these spots usually have a higher chance of catching fish.
3. Cast Your Line: Stand next to the water’s edge and press the Y button to cast your line. The further you hold the Y button, the further you’ll cast. Try to cast into bubble spots for better chances.
4. Wait for a Bite: Once your line is in the water, a “!” exclamation mark will appear above your character. The rod will tug and there will be a distinct sound, indicating a bite.
5. The Catching Mini-Game: After getting a bite, press the Y button again to start the mini-game. A green bar will appear on the right-hand side, with a small fish icon. The goal is to keep the fish within the green bar by pressing and releasing the Y button.
6. Maintaining the Fish in the Bar: The fish will move up and down, and the bar will also move according to your taps. Hold the Y button to make the bar ascend and release the Y button to make it descend. Try to match the fish’s movement as closely as possible to keep it inside the green bar. If the fish moves out of the bar, the meter will deplete faster.
7. Reeling in the Catch: If you manage to keep the fish within the green bar until the meter fills completely, you’ll successfully catch the fish. A small window will pop up showing your catch, along with the experience gained. However, if the meter goes empty the fish will escape.
8. Retrieving your catch: Simply press A to collect your catch.

Understanding the Fishing Mini-Game

The fishing mini-game is the crux of the fishing experience, and mastering it is essential for consistently catching fish. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the elements involved:

• The Green Bar: This is the container that you need to keep the fish icon inside. The size and speed of the green bar may be affected by a combination of factors, including your fishing skill, the type of rod you use, and any bait or tackles equipped.
• The Fish Icon: This icon represents the fish you’re trying to catch. It will move erratically, and the difficulty of the mini-game is often determined by the fish’s behavior.
• The Meter: This bar indicates your progress in reeling in the fish. Keep the fish within the green bar and the meter fills up. The meter will deplete if the fish escapes the bar.
• Tapping vs Holding: You’ll need to tap the Y button to make small, controlled adjustments to the bar’s position. Holding the Y button will cause the bar to move significantly faster, so use this for larger corrections. Learning when to tap and when to hold is critical to success.
• Patience: It’s essential to remain patient and react calmly to the fish’s movements. Panicking or mashing the Y button often leads to lost fish.

Improving Your Fishing Skills

As you practice, your character’s fishing skill will increase, making the mini-game easier and allowing you to catch rarer and more valuable fish. Here’s how to improve your fishing skill:

• Catching Fish: The most straightforward way to level up your fishing is to catch fish. Each successful catch provides experience points toward your fishing level.
• Trash Doesn’t Count: While you might sometimes reel in trash, catching these will not give you fishing experience.
• Fishing Skill Levels: As your skill increases, the green bar in the mini-game will get larger, and the movement will become more forgiving. Higher fishing skill also increases the chance of reeling in higher quality fish, and you will be able to use better fishing rods.
• Leveling Milestone Rewards: Every level in fishing brings various benefits, including new crafting recipes and access to new fishing rods at Willy’s shop.

Upgrading Your Fishing Rod

Your basic Bamboo Pole will get you started, but it won’t be sufficient for catching more challenging fish. Upgrading your fishing rod is crucial for making fishing easier and for catching rarer fish. Here’s a breakdown of available fishing rods:

• Bamboo Pole: Your starting rod, with limited efficiency.
• Fiberglass Rod: Available at fishing level 2 for 1800 gold, offers a wider green bar. This rod lets you use bait, further increasing your catch rate.
• Iridium Rod: Available at fishing level 6 for 7500 gold, the best rod in the game with the widest green bar. This rod allows for bait and tackle, providing the most significant fishing advantage.

Visit Willy’s Fish Shop on the beach to purchase new fishing rods once you reach the required skill level.

Using Bait and Tackle

Once you’ve upgraded to the Fiberglass Rod or the Iridium Rod, you’ll be able to use bait and tackle. These items provide significant bonuses to your fishing experience. Here’s how they work:

Bait

• Purpose: Bait reduces the time it takes for fish to bite. This significantly cuts down the waiting time between casts.
• Types of Bait: There are several types of bait, like regular bait, wild bait, and magnetic bait. Each offers varying degrees of attraction.
• Applying Bait: Select your bait in the inventory and press A to attach it to your rod. Each cast will consume 1 piece of bait.
• Acquiring Bait: Bait can be crafted, purchased from Willy’s shop, and occasionally found as random drops while fishing.

Tackle

• Purpose: Tackle provides various bonuses, including increasing the size of the green bar, slowing down the fish’s movements, and increasing bite rates.
• Types of Tackle: Some common tackle items include the Spinner, which slightly increases the bite rate; the Trap Bobber, which slows down fish escapes; and the Cork Bobber, which increases the size of the green bar.
• Applying Tackle: Once you have the rod with tacke function, select your tackle in the inventory and press A to attach it to your rod. Unlike bait, each tackle item lasts until you replace it.
• Acquiring Tackle: Tackle can be crafted, purchased from Willy’s shop, and some may be found in chests.

Experiment with different combinations of bait and tackle to find what works best for you and your fishing style.

Choosing the Right Fishing Spot

The location of your fishing spot can significantly impact your success. Each body of water and time of day may have different fish available, and some locations will have higher chances of rare fish. Here are a few key areas:

• The Ocean: Located south of Pelican Town, the ocean offers a variety of saltwater fish, and is where the majority of the fish will be caught.
• The River: Running through the town and the forest, the river is home to freshwater fish, providing a different range of catches from the ocean.
• The Mountain Lake: Located near the mines, this lake is another great spot for freshwater fish and some unique catches as well.
• Secret Woods Pond: Accessible through the Cindersap Forest, this pond contains unique, rarer fish.
• Mines: Fishing within the mine levels also grants different catches.
• Mutant Bug Lair: A late game location that also has unique catches to be discovered.

Pay attention to the bubbles rising from the water’s surface. These areas usually indicate higher fish activity. Additionally, certain fish are only available during specific seasons, times of day, or weather conditions. Always experiment with different locations and times to find the best opportunities.

Fishing Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips to help you become a fishing master in Stardew Valley on the Switch:

• Practice Regularly: Like any skill, fishing improves with practice. Consistent fishing will help you understand the rhythm of the mini-game.
• Focus on the Fish: Pay close attention to the fish icon’s movement. Anticipating its moves will allow you to make more accurate adjustments to the green bar.
• Start Small: Begin fishing in easier locations such as the river to practice before attempting challenging areas.
• Utilize Fishing Buffs: Consuming food items like the Trout Soup and Fish Stew temporarily increases your fishing skill, which helps when tackling harder fish.
• Check the Traveling Cart: The Traveling Cart, which visits the Cindersap Forest on Fridays and Sundays, often sells useful fishing-related items, including some rare bait and tackle.
• Learn Fish Patterns: Observe how different types of fish behave in the mini-game. Some move more frantically than others.
• Don’t be afraid to fail: Fishing can be a little frustrating at first. Don’t worry about losing some catches.
• Listen for the bite: Pay attention to the sound as much as the visual when catching the initial bite.

Conclusion

Fishing in Stardew Valley on the Nintendo Switch is a rewarding and enjoyable activity once you understand the mechanics. By following this guide, practicing regularly, and experimenting with different techniques and locations, you’ll soon become a proficient angler capable of catching even the rarest fish. Embrace the peaceful process, learn from your failures, and enjoy the thrill of reeling in your catches. Happy fishing!