Any tips/tricks for fishing?

[gabagool]

I know the devs did say they wanted to make fishing a challenge, not an easy luxury, but I still have such a hard time trying to catch fish. Any tips or tricks you guys have? I need to start fishing more since it's winter now.

[Aud`]

It gets easier with higher fishing level, better rods and tackle (bobber).

[Nathiri]

Fish easy fish like carp first, up till level 2 when you unlock bait. In between, pick up misc. shells from the beach for the crab pot bundle in the community center. You can complete it early since you can also get a crab in the mines (from one of those little critters living under a rock) and make bait from the bug meat you get in the mines. You get 3 crab pots as a reward for completing the crab pot bundle. Put them in some water, add bait. You can harvest the crab pots each day. At level 3 you can craft them yourself, or buy them.

You can then decide if you want to use more crab pots and level fishing somewhat passively, or fish yourself.

Carp fish themselves, and there are a whole load of other easy fish (check the wiki for the ratings and locations). The difficulty of fishing is not knowing where to fish. Once you start fishing in appropriate areas, it's easy peasy.

Also keep an eye out for the "Dish O' the Sea" quest reward. It gives you a temporary fishing buff.

[NotThatHarkness]

Carp is easy to fish in the pond in the secret forest.

Willy sells trout soup which gives a temporary +1 to fishing. I found that helped quite a bit.

If you don't have the bait recipe yet you can befriend Linus for one. Save bug meat and slime for that recipe. Then with the crab pots from the community center bundle you can do that instead. But, with only 3 crab pots it's slow to level up fishing.

Get the fiberglass rod as soon as it's available. I got a letter from Willy soon after reaching level 2 in fishing. It helps a little bit too, but not as much as it's the forum hype.

Fishing does seem to be getting easier with higher fishing level, but that's not helpful in getting through the lower levels. I put off fishing until winter 2. It's tedious work for me. I don't enjoy the mini game at all. I'm just hoping to complete the fish tank bundles eventually and complete the community center.

Oh, one of the fish tank bundles gave me 3 "Dish O' the Sea" plates. That gives a +3 bonus to fishing. I got the recipe already (forgot where). I just need sardines and more potatoes. I'll probably rely on that to hopefully complete the community center and then never fish again, lol.

[Balla G]

Try and keep the fish near the top of the bar when fishing. It is a lot easier to go up with the fish than down.

Also not sure about other seasons, but the two closest water sources to the farm (one is the lake to the southwest the other is the one right below the house) don't give you anything but trash usually in the spring.

So far, for the spring, if you want the most value for your fishing get a fiberglass pole(or the iridium ;D ), some bait, and head for the river below Minnie's (or whatever her name is, south of your farm). You should go directly south of her house cross both of the first two bridges and fish there. You get the most valuable fish here, but you encounter catfish a lot, and these will be very hard to catch with anything other than an iridium rod and a higher fishing level.

[HarspudSauce]

When I get a hit, I like to hold down the button down for a quick second before seeing what the fish will do. If it stays down, then no real biggie. If it goes up, then my bar usually follows with it. Then, after the initial movement, start tapping the button (faster for up, slower for down)

It seems that certain fish have different patterns. Eels, for example, usually swing straight up3/4ths of the way, then swing straight down, and then start bobbing a bit. Halibut are lesser versions of Eels, with less violent movements. Carp just basically stay there (there are times where I don't even have to do anything and still get a perfect).

For the record I use a controller and can consistently catch eels with no levels in fishing and the bamboo pole. I only fail if I don't pay attention or get overly ambitious for a chest. I notice I have more trouble using the mouse so give a controller a whirl if you have one.