Using bait in Stardew Valley can help speed up the process of fishing. Having to wait for a bite can soak up a lot of valuable time (even at the best fishing spots), and attaching bait to a fishing pole greatly increases a player’s efficiency. However, when bait is first unlocked in Stardew Valley, there’s no obvious way to equip it. So, those who want to catch some Breem or Sturgeon should read on.
How to unlock bait in Stardew Valley
Unlocking the first type of bait in Stardew Valley (known simply as “Bait”) isn’t difficult. A player just needs to get the pole from Willy and fish until they reach Fishing Level 2.
After the Bait recipe is unlocked, five pieces can be crafted per one Bug Meat. It can also be purchased at the Fish Shop for 5g per piece. Players can find bug Meat in the mine by defeating Cave Flies, so they shouldn’t have any problem quickly amassing a stock of Bait.
There are two other types of bait in the game as well:
- Magnet: Doubles the chance of finding treasure when fishing.
- Recipe:
- 1 Iron Bar
- Recipe Obtained:
- Reach Fishing Level 9
- Recipe:
- Wild Bait: Gives a chance to catch two fish at once and makes fish bite faster.
- Recipe:
- 5 Bug Meat
- 10 Fiber
- 5 Slime
- Recipe Obtained:
- Get four hearts with Linus.
- Recipe:
How to equip bait in Stardew Valley
The issue that likely confuses players when it comes to equipping bait in Stardew Valley is that the default rod can’t do it. Unfortunately, the Bamboo Pole Willy gives players doesn’t have a slot to equip bait or tackle.
To use bait in Stardew Valley, players must purchase the Fiberglass Rod. This item becomes available to buy after reaching Fishing Level 2 and costs 1,800g. Early on, when a player is just starting to harvest their first crops, that might seem pretty steep. However, when paired with bait, the pole can quickly pay for itself in just a few days of fishing.
