Why do so many people hate fishing?

[GarlicLover]

Fishing is one of my favourite things to do in Stardew. Often, at the end of a long day of foraging, mining, exploring, tending animals and what have you, an evening's fishing is one of my favourite ways to relax (both canonically for my farmer but also me, the player).

So with all that in mind, it's surprising to read how much other people hate fishing. I admit I'm not the best at it, and I often struggle to catch the rarest fish but I still enjoy it.

How do others feel? Do they hate fishing as much as I enjoy it? Am I an outlier? Or is it just an outspoken minority airing their frustration?

And if you do hate it, why is that?

 

[Cuddlebug]

Fishing is one of my favourite things to do in Stardew. Often, at the end of a long day of foraging, mining, exploring, tending animals and what have you, an evening's fishing is one of my favourite ways to relax (both canonically for my farmer but also me, the player).

So with all that in mind, it's surprising to read how much other people hate fishing. I admit I'm not the best at it, and I often struggle to catch the rarest fish but I still enjoy it.

How do others feel? Do they hate fishing as much as I enjoy it? Am I an outlier? Or is it just an outspoken minority airing their frustration?

Can't tell for the others, but I don't hate it anymore. I did for the first few saves, bc I didn't know really how to do it. But in my 3rd or maybe 4th save one of my kids saw me failing and said, why don't you click that way? and me so "No, don't tell me that this was all I had to do?!!?"
And since then, yeah... It's working quite well.

 

[Hedhogthe3rd]

I think a lot of people don’t like the minigame because it can be a little hard with some fish.

 

[WanderingWendaline]

I didn't hate it with a burning passion, but there was a time when I first started playing where I found it pretty difficult. I kept practicing though, and now it's basically the only thing I do when I play It's just the right amount of doing nothing and engagement for me, plus it's pretty profitable

 

[Lenora Rose]

I find it pretty relaxing, yeah. And I definitely am not the best.

 

[mare]

When I first tried fishing, I didn’t really understand how the minigame worked, so I found it pretty difficult and stopped fishing for a while.

I practiced little by little, and when I finally caught my first fish, I was SO happy!

Sometimes, when there’s a quest to catch five of a certain fish, I have trouble finding the fish I need, or I struggle to catch them, and I start thinking, “Ahhh, the time limit is running out!!”

I’m not particularly good at fishing, but I enjoy it! Especially when I catch a rare fish, it feels extra rewarding.

 

[Ih8Lewis4ever]

I tried fishing once, in 2021, and then I gave up. But then a few weeks ago I decided to give fishing a try. And it is hard. But not that hard.

 

[Nonak]

I don't love it, but it can be very much enjoyable, depends on my mood. Usually also my go-to activity when I don't know what to do with the rest of the day. Or the rest of the season, sometimes I fish for a week straight just because there's nothing urgent and I don't wanna think of what else to do.

Seems people just find it unnecessarily hard and some never try enough to figure it out. Then you can avoid it, possibly use mods that make it easier/remove the minigame altogether or, if you can't do the latter come here and request for that to be an in-game feature.

 

[dragonflySky]

The worst part of fishing is the beginning. I level up as fast as I can so it gets better and easier. The loot is good and so is the money making.

 

[User/Name_]

I used to just hate and ignore fishing when i was new, but it is actually one of my favourite features. I think when your a newer player you just don't understand it and kinda boycott it completly. gotta say it is tricky but you get better. I think people find it hard at the beging and just don't practice.

 

[LadyOscar]

When i first started I didn't understand how fishing worked at all. The bar is behind the fish...like below it, or what? And then I knew what I had to do, but I couldn't figure out how to do it, since I was just click-click-clicking and it was very hard. And then I got a mouse with my laptop, and it was easier, but still hard. And then I read something on the forum or watched a video, I don't even remember, and I learned that I could hold down the mouse button so I didn't have to keep clicking. (And I finally figured out how to actually put bait on my rod. ^^; )

Now I really enjoy fishing! I'm not the best at it, but with reasonable gear (the training rod for me in the beginning) I can beat Willy at ice fishing and get all the Trout Derby and Squid Fest prizes with no problem, and catch legendary fish. The fishing game at the Stardew Valley Fair is by far the easiest way for me to get tokens.

If your personal coordination or your setup makes fishing hard, that sucks. But for anyone who is just new and a doofus like me, there is hope!

 

[LRangerR]

I actually love fishing. Nothing quite like hauling in an octopus on your first try when you're not even level 10 yet. But it takes time and practice, just like anything else. I don't understand why so many people hate fishing, but the angler community is definitely out there.

 

[User/Name_]

I remember I used to just hold down the button until the meter got to the top of the screen and I was so confused

 

[Quirinea]

Many people who play SDV are people that do not generally like games depending on fast coordination. And fishing minigame requires just that (also several hand problems may make it impossible). I avoid Junimo cart and Praerie King, and found fishing impossible. But I have no actual medical problems, and after I found out suitable fishing mods I started to even like it. One problem is that it is extra hard in the beginning. You don't know how it works, the bar is very small etc.

 

[User/Name_]

One problem is that it is extra hard in the beginning. You don't know how it works, the bar is very small etc.

I agree with that. there isn't a very clear tutorial for fishing, either. Though once you get the hang of it, it does become quite enjoyable.

 

[User/Name_]

Ok I don't understand why my comment was part of the quote ???

 

[Ereo]

Ok I don't understand why my comment was part of the quote ???

sometimes, when you do a quote you scroll down and click or tab on the screen, which moves the cursor. If that happens before the closing quote bracket, your text appears in the quote.