How to Catch Walleye in Stardew Valley

ByC. Anthony Rivera

Fishing is a big part of Stardew Valley, and there are loads of different types of fish that you can catch from different spots on the map. One in particular that you’ll eventually want to catch is the Walleye. It’s a resourceful freshwater fish that’s caught at night.

Stardew Valley Walleye

This guide will help you add Walleye to your collection with details about exactly where to find it, how to catch it, and what to do with it in terms of recipes and other usages. If you’re getting familiar with the Valley, there’s a good chance you already know where to start. Let’s grab our fishing rods and go search for some Walleye!

Where to Find Walleye

You can only catch Walleye in the Fall season on days when it is raining. Further, to catch one, you must cast your line between 12 PM and 2 AM at one of the following locations (circled in the picture below):

  • Pelican Town River
  • Cindersap Forest Pond
  • Mountain Lake
Stardew Valley Walleye Map Locations

In addition to the Fall season, you can catch one during Winter as well. However, you’ll have to use a Rain Totem to make this possible. Otherwise, your character will end up ice-fishing instead.

It’s important to note that the Walleye can be found only during these two seasons and the specific times mentioned above, and it must be raining. Alternatively, Magic Bait can be utilized if you’re looking to fish without limits.

As a substitute for those that don’t like fishing and are feeling lucky, this fish can be found at random in garbage cans, or at the Traveling Cart during the Fall and Winter. It will cost between 315-1,000g if purchased there. A stroll through the town while checking the waste cans can provide you with more than abandoned fish, so be sure to take a peek whenever you find them.

How to Farm Walleye

The best thing to do with this specific fish is to sell it. It’s fairly easy to set up a Walleye farm and sell them for extra Gold. To start, you’ll need to visit Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop and purchase a Fish Pond for 5,000g. It’ll take her two days to build the pond.

While you’re talking with Robin, be sure to find and return Robin’s axe to get an extra friendship heart.

Initially, you can hold three fish in your pond, but if you complete all of the fishing quests, the pond capacity can reach ten. To increase the capacity of the fish in question in a pond, retrieve the following items and toss them into the pond:

  • Capacity 5: Acorns (x3), Bug Meat (x10), Maple Seeds (x3), Pine Cones (x3)
  • Capacity 7: Gold Ore (x3), Maple Syrup (x1), Mixed Seeds (x5)
  • Capacity 10: Crayfish (x1), Honey (x1), Jade (x2), Periwinkle (x1)

It will take three days for Walleyes to reproduce in a pond, so you’ll need to wait a few weeks to reach full capacity. The offspring can be sold for a base price of 105g, which can be increased to 131g or 157g, if your character has the Fisher or Angler profession, respectively.

For silver-star variants, the base price is set at 131g; 163g and 196g for Fisher and Angler. Gold-star catches start at 157g; 196g for Fishers and 235g for Anglers. Finally, for the Iridium batch, it begins at 210g; then 262g for Fishers and 315g for Anglers.

Walleye Recipes, Tailoring, and Quests Uses

There are no recipes in Stardew Valley that specifically require a Walleye. However, it can be used in three different recipes:

  • Maki Roll
  • Sashimi
  • Quality Fertilizer

For those looking to increase their relationship with Linus, Sashimi is one of their favorite foods, making it a good way to earn some friendship hearts. On the other hand, the Maki Roll restores 100 Energy and 45 Health, or sells 220g if you choose to barter. Of course, Quality Fertilizer is also always good to have around the farm to increase the chance of growing quality crops.

Additionally, for those that are working with a sewing machine, a Walleye is needed to make a Fishing Vest.

As far as quests are concerned, players can visit the Help Wanted board that is located at Pierre’s General Store to receive a random quest that will require them to retrieve a Walleye. Doing so will earn them 315g and 150 Friendship points.

Do Any Villagers Like Walleye?

There are six villagers that are neutral towards the freshwater fish, and three that hate them. The rest generally dislike them. So, there is really no point in gifting the fish to anyone around town. However, if you do, be sure to give it to one of the villagers listed below, as it won’t negatively impact your friendship:

  • Demetrius
  • Elliot
  • Leo
  • Linus
  • Pam
  • Sebastian
  • Willy

If the fish is gifted to any other villagers, it will hurt the relationship, especially your connections with Evelyn, Haley, and Pierre. After all, who wants a stinky fish as a gift?

That’s everything you need to know in order to start catching Walleye in Stardew Valley! Wait for some rain, grab some bait, and cast a line. If that’s not possible, rummaging through the trash is always an option!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I catch Walleye?

Walleye can only appear during the night while it’s Fall or Winter, the latter requiring a Rain Totem. Any other season will not yield this fish.

Where’s the best place to catch Walleye?

The river running along the Cindersap Forest provides a fast way for you to travel back to the farm in case you need some extra supplies.

Do you need Magic Bait to catch Walleye?

You can use Magic Bait whenever you please, but it’s best to use it when you really need Walleye for one reason or another.