How To Get Iridium Rod Stardew Valley

Updated date:

Aug 7, 2020

"Stardew Valley" Fishing Guide

Heather has a passion for writing and drawing and maybe a slight addiction to anime and video games.

Fish Are Friends

The fishing mechanic in Stardew Valley may seem extremely difficult when you first get started. However, do not be turned off by your initial inability to catch anything but algae! It only makes sense that a novice would struggle with any new task right? This gets incredibly easier with gear that is unlocked by obtaining higher levels.

If you've lost your Fishing Rod, you can obtain another at the Fishing Shack south of the beach on the docks. This is also where you can buy bait and upgraded rods as you level. The NPC who runs it, Willy, will also sell you Trout Soup when you're a beginner. I highly suggest buying some unless you can make it yourself as it will help you not only to catch those incredibly difficult fish but increase your Fishing Skill quickly.

Fishing Rods

There are 3 Fishing Rods in the game, Bamboo Fishing Rod, Fiberglass Fishing Rod, and Iridium Fishing Rod. You will start out with Bamboo, unlock Fiberglass at Fishing Level 2, and Iridium at Fishing Level 6. Fiberglass allows you to use bait, and Iridium will allow you to use bait and tackle. Rarer fish will require better rods and attachments.

stardew-valley-fishing-guide — Stardew Valley

Fishing Levels

Catching fish in general gains you experience, as does selling the fish. Here's a list of the ranks and rewards!


Rank	Reward
1	No Rewards
2	Unlocks Bait and Fiberglass Fishing Rod
3	Unlocks Crab Pot, Dish O' The Sea
4	Unlocks Recycling Machine
5	Unlocks Professions: Choose Fisher or Trapper
6	Unlocks Spinner, Trap Bobber, Iridium Fishing Rod
7	Unlocks Cork Bobber, Treasure Hunter
8	Unlocks Barbed Hook, Dressed Spinner, Worm Bin
9	Unlocks Magnet
10	Unlocks Professions: Angler, Lure Master, Mariner, Pirate

Tackle/Attachments


Name	Use	Crafting Requirements
Barbed Hook	Makes it easier to catch lower ranked Fish	1 Copper Bar, 1 Iron Bar, 1 Gold Bar
Cork Bobber	Increases the length of the Fishing Bar	10 Wood, 5 Hardwood, 10 Slime
Dressed Spinner	Improves Catch Rate	2 Iron Bars, 1 Cloth
Lead Bobber	Additional Weight, keeps bobber steadier.	Must be Purchased
Magnet	Increases chance of Treasure	1 Iron Bar
Spinner	Improves Catch Rate	2 Iron Bar
Trap Bobber	Decreases Fish Escape Rate	1 Copper Bar
Treasure Hunter	Increases chance of Treasure, prevents fish from escaping while capturing Treasure	2 Gold Bar

Bubbles?!

Sometimes while running around you'll notice bubbles in the water. Bubbles are awesome, because they make it much more likely to catch fish more quickly without the Bait or Fishing Food Buff. They also give you a better chance at catching rare fish. So if you're seeking a Legendary Fish, these are a good free boost to your chances.

Fish Tank Bundles

Fish Tank Bundles are bundles of specific fish you can turn into the Junimos at the community center to progress further in the game and removes the Glittering Boulder. However I should note, you may not be able to complete the Specialty Fish Bundle without fully unlocking The Vault first, unless you can find a Sandfish (only found in The Desert) for sale at the Traveling Cart. If you haven't unlocked the Fish Tank yet, start with completing some of the other Bundles already available such as the Foraging, or Pantry Bundles.

River Fish Bundle

Reward for Completion: Bait x(30)
Fish	Season	Location/Weather/Rod
Catfish	Spring, Fall	Rivers and Secret Woods Pond. Raining
Sunfish	Spring, Summer	6AM-7PM During Sunny Weather, Riverlands Farm or Wilderness Farm during Rainy Weather
Shad	Spring, Summer, Fall	Rivers. 9AM-2AM. Raining, Fiberglass Rod
Tiger Trout	Fall, Winter	Rivers. 6AM-7PM, Fiberglass Rod

Ocean Fish Bundle

Reward for Completion: Ward Totem: Beach x(5)
Fish	Seasons	Locations/Weather/Rod
Red Snapper	Summer, Fall	Ocean, 6AM-7PM, during rain.
Sardine	Spring, Fall, Winter	Ocean, 6AM-7PM.
Tuna	Summer, Winter	Ocean, 6AM-7PM.
Tilapia	Summer, Fall	Ocean, 6AM-2PM, Fiberglass Rod

Lake Fish Bundle

Reward for Completion: Dressed Spinner
Fish	Season	Location/Weather/Rod
Bullhead	All	Mountain Lake, always available.
Sturgeon	Summer, Winter	Mountain Lake, 6AM-7PM
Largemouth Bass	All	Mountain Lake, 6AM-7PM
Carp	All	At Mountain Lake, Secret Woods, and Sewer all seasons. Cindersap Forest Pond Spring, Summer, Fall. Always available.

Night Fish Bundle

Reward for Completion: Small Glow Ring
Fish	Seasons	Location/Weather/Rod
Bream	All	Rivers, 6PM-2AM
Eel	Spring, Fall	Ocean, 4PM-2AM, during rain, Fiberglass Rod
Walleye	Fall	Rivers, Lakes, Forest Pond, 12PM-2AM, during rain, Fiberglass Rod

Crab Pots

Crab Pots are available at Level 3 Fishing Skill to either buy from the fishing store, or you can craft them yourself using 40 logs and 3 silver ingots. Most of the fish needed for the Crab Pot Bundle will require using these, although others can be foraged at the Beach. Another exception is Crab, which drops from Rock Crabs or Lava Crabs in The Mines as well.

Crab Pot Bundle

Reward for Completion: Crab Pot x(3)
Fish	Location
Cockle	Ocean, Beach (forage)
Shrimp	Ocean
Periwinkle	Freshwater
Oyster	Ocean, Beach (forage)
Clam	Ocean, Beach (forage)
Snail	Freshwater
Mussel	Ocean, Beach (forage)
Crab	Ocean, Rock Crabs or Lava Crabs (Mines)
Lobster	Ocean
Crayfish	Freshwater

Specialty Fish Bundle

Reward for Completion: Dish 'O The Sea x(5)
Fish	Seasons	Location/Weather
Sandfish	All	The Desert pond, 6AM-8PM.
Ghostfish	All	The Mines Level 20 and level 60 ponds. Also dropped by ghosts.
Woodskip	All	Secret Woods, Forest Farm.
Pufferfish	Summer	Ocean, 12PM-4PM, sunny.

More Fish?

There are other fish than what are needed for the Fish Tank Bundles. They can be used in recipes and of course sold for profit. Not to mention there are Legendary Fish that are worth some serious money!

Other Fish

Albacore, Red Mullet, and Squid Require Fiberglass Rod. Lingcod Requires Iridium Rod.
Fish	Season	Location/Weather
Albacore	Fall, Winter	Ocean, 6AM-11AM, 6PM-2AM
Anchovy	Spring, Fall	Ocean
Dorado	Summer	River, 6AM-7PM
Halibut	Spring, Summer, Winter	Ocean, 6AM-11AM, 7PM-2AM
Herring	Spring, Winter	Ocean
Ice Pip	All	The Mines floor 60
Lava Eel	All	The Mines floor 100
Lingcod	Winter	Lake, River
Octopus	Summer	Ocean, 6AM-1PM
Perch	Winter	Lake, River
Pike	Summer, Winter	Lake, River
Rainbow Trout	Summer	River, Mountain, 6AM-7PM, Sunny
Red Mullet	Summer, Winter	Ocean, 6AM-7PM
Salmon	Fall	River, 6AM-7PM
Scorpion Carp	All	Desert, 6AM-10PM
Sea Cucumber	Fall, Winter	Ocean, 6AM-7PM
Smallmouth Bass	Spring, Fall	River, Lake, Forest, Pond
Squid	Winter	Ocean, Night
Stonefish	All	The Mines floor 20
Super Cucumber	Summer, Fall, Winter	Ocean, 6PM-2PM

Legendary Fish

All Legendary Fish Require Iridium Rod.
Fish	Seasons	Locations/Weather
Angler	Fall	North of Joja Mart
Glacierfish	Winter	South of Arrowhead Island, Deepwater, 6AM-10PM
Crimsonfish	Summer	East Pier of Ocean
Legend	Any	Mine Lake (log)
Mutant Carp	Any	Sewers

Laura Brown from Barrie, Ontario, Canada on January 26, 2020:

I'd like to read this but the font on all the HubPages sites are too small and light in colour. I get tired of mucking around holding up a magnifying screen or playing with zoom in and out on my web browswer. Why can't they just acknowledge that not everyone is an airline pilot and fix this?