Summary

  • Avoiding fishing in Stardew Valley leads to a special scene with Willy offering tips and a free Training Rod.
  • Players can level up their Fishing skill and get a better fishing rod by ignoring fishing for a month in-game.
  • This hidden scene with Willy has been discovered by players after years of the game's release, showing its hidden depth.

A Stardew Valley player has stumbled upon a scene with Pelican Town's resident fisherman, Willy, that most players probably haven't run across. Like most NPCs in the game, Willy can be met in the opening days of a run through Stardew Valley, but getting this scene requires ignoring his favorite activity for a long time.

Fishing can be a great way to pass time in the game, allowing the player to make a little extra money on the side, collect cooking ingredients, or find necessary items for the Community Center. Still, learning how to fish in Stardew Valley seems to be a big hurdle for a lot of players, which may be why this scene exists at all.

Players only seem to be able to access this special scene with Willy if they refuse to participate in fishing entirely. According to Reddit user Floxitronic, Willy showed up at their front door on Spring 28 in Year 1 to discuss why they hadn't been fishing yet and to share some helpful tips for catching fish in Stardew Valley. For this player, the actual reason for avoiding dipping their line in the water was that they were attempting a run in which they don't expend any energy, but the conversation seems like it was included to encourage players to experience all the mechanics the game has to offer. Each season in Stardew Valley lasts for 28 days in-game, and the player got this scene on the final day of the spring, meaning they had to avoid fishing for a solid four weeks in order to see this scene for themselves.

Stardew Valley Has a Special Scene for Players Who Avoid Fishing

While Willy gave the player some basic pointers for fishing, leaving out more complex details like using Stardew Valley fish bait, that's not the only benefit of letting this scene play out. The interaction also bumped their Fishing skill up to Level 1 despite the player having never caught a fish before, automatically upgrading the size of the catch box that a player has to manipulate vertically on the screen in order to catch a fish. Willy also gifted the player with a free Training Rod, which can't catch every type of fish but is easier to use than the regular Bamboo Pole that Willy normally gives out when players visit him at the start of the game.

While many players in the comments seem to have been seeing this scene play out for the first time despite the game's eight-year history, its inclusion may not be a recent development. Stardew Valley Version 1.6 launched in March, but at least one fan in the comments claims to have seen this scene while the game was still in Version 1.5, leaving it unclear as to how long Willy has been paying helpful visits to players wary of fishing.

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Stardew Valley Tag Page Cover Art

Stardew Valley
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RPG
Simulation
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
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Released
February 26, 2016
ESRB
E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
Developer(s)
ConcernedApe
Publisher(s)
ConcernedApe
Engine
Proprietary
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
Stardew Valley does not currently support crossplay between different consoles and PC
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won’t be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town’s most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!

Cross Save
cross-progression is only available between the PC and mobile versions of the game
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
Vertical or Horizontal
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
Platform(s)
PC, Xbox One, Android, iOS, PS4, Switch
Genre(s)
RPG, Simulation
How Long To Beat
53 Hours
File Size Xbox Series
1 GB (November 2023)
Local Co-Op Support
1-4 Players