Does the mountain lake really give better fishing experience?

[Storm628]

In spring, the best place to fish for money is the mountain lake during sunny weather and the river during the rain. I've heard some people claim that the mountain lake is better for fishing experience, but I don't think that's the case.

Both places have 4 fishes to catch. The chub will be the same at both locations. The bullhead and shad have basically the same pattern, which results in the same experience. At gold initial quality, a perfect carp gives 34 experience, which is the same amount as an imperfectly caught catfish. And in my experience I'll catch a largemouth bass perfectly about 50% of the time in early spring, which gives about 42 experience on average per catch, while a perfectly caught bream gives 48 experience.

The model is a bit simplified and doesn't consider the different time and trash rates, but these numbers at least suggest that the experience is similar. I think I'm going to stop fishing on day 4.

 

[Lew Zealand]

For me it depends on how long it takes to get there in Spring Year 1 when I do most of my fishing because I'm impatient and lazy. Which is why I prioritize clearing a path to the south exit from the farm so I can fish in the Cindersap River. It feels like I get there and back faster which makes all the difference to me. And that could also mean 1 or 2 more fish? Probably not that much but if it's the rare day I'm doing something else out on the farm, Cindersap is real close and there are a few more trees so I can grab some wood on the way back if I need any.

On occasion on the right day I'll even remember that the Traveling Cart is just off the side of the screen! On rare occasion. OK almost never but it's still there!

 

[WorstDecorator]

every fish that gets away from you is worth 0xp, so I generally prefer grinding up at the mountain lake and don't even bother trying to catch catfish until i'm at least Fishing Lvl. 5.

Carps being a basically guaranteed perfect catch is quite handy for advancing through the first few levels, and quality Bullheads/LargeBass are worth a respectable amount of money (again, every fish that gets away with you is also worth 0g)

 

[WorstDecorator]

Bullheads also are fairly easy to perfect once you learn their pattern and get a couple levels. Iridium Bullheads are really good XP (I think it's 57 for an iridium?) and money

 

[WorstDecorator]

the advantage to forest river fishing, I think, is the less fish variety (on a sunny day, at least) keeping your inventory more manageable.

 

[Storm628]

Bullheads also are fairly easy to perfect once you learn their pattern and get a couple levels. Iridium Bullheads are really good XP (I think it's 57 for an iridium?) and money

If experience is your main priority, bullheads (with targeted bait) are the absolute best. However, I often care about a balance between money, experience and food.

 

[FilthyGorilla]

Another really important thing to consider is that fish aren't considered equally when catching, even if you have 4 fish in either location, the chances of hooking each may be 0.25/0.25/0.25/0.2 for one (5% trash), or 0.1/0.6/0.1/0.1 (10% trash) for another.

A good example of this is the the mines fishing, "it's amazing to fish on 100 there's only 1 fish and its super valuable!" buuuut you have a 95% chance of rolling a trash catch.

You'll also level up fast regardless, but good days for early fishing (raining) won't come up whenever, so it's often better to fish in the secret woods/river when raining for catfish, as farming xp doesn't really matter when they sell for 375/450 raw with the applicable skills

 

[BeenASon]

I'm way too lazy to go to the forest in order to fish. I just fish in the town river on rainy days and normal ones lol.