The issue that bothers me just a little bit about Willy's Fishing in-game is that he apparently uses a Bamboo Rod as his casts are all of 1 tile from the shore. Yet at the beginning of the game he mentions he just got a new Rod and wants you to have his old Bamboo one. At least he should get the equivalent of a Fiberglass one. It could even double as a hint that there is better Fishing to come if you stick with it through initial agony.
That said...
I've never seen Willy hook so much as a Sardine outside of the Ice Fishing Contest. Which goes to show you one very important thing:
Willy knows far better how to Fish than the Farmer. The Farmer just makes... honestly an embarrassment of herself putting all this unseemly, shameful effort into Fishing when it's not a job, it's a Pastime. You pass the time with it, dozing at the Docks, lazing below the leaves of your favorite shady late afternoon Tree. Not making a show of yanking an 81" Eel out of the drink or mightily fighting an Octopus for an hour or more. Getting all damp in the process.
Really.
Show yourself some dignity and respect and take it easy with that Rod.