How to put bait on a fishing rod in Stardew Valley

Given how popular the fishing activity is in the game, knowing how to put bait on a fishing rod in Stardew Valley forms the basic foundation of gameplay. While players can fish without bait, using it doesn't just make fishing easier but different types of bait also offer different bonuses and perks. There are some caveats to note, however, especially since the basics can be confusing at first.

This guide covers all you need to know about putting bait on a fishing rod. Then we will also take a look at the different kinds of bait available in Stardew Valley

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How to attach bait on a fishing rod in Stardew Valley?

Fishing near the Fish Shop in Stardew Valley (Image via ConcernedApe)

Bait is an item that can be attached to fishing rods to make fishing easier by reducing the amount of time before a fish nibbles upon the player's fishing rod. They can be purchased from Willy's Fish Shop for 5G each upon reaching Fishing level 2.

However, you should note that to put bait on a fishing rod in Stardew Valley, you must have one of the following rods:

• Fiberglass Rod: Purchased from Willy's Fish Shop for 1,800G after reaching level 2 in Fishing. Only bait can be attached to it.
• Iridium Rod: Purchased from Willy's Fish Shop for 7,500G after reaching level 6 in Fishing. Bait and tackle both can be attached to it.
• Advanced Iridium Rod: Obtained as a reward for completing Fishing Mastery. Bait and two tackles can be attached to it.

In other words, the base rods i.e. Bamboo Rod and Training Rod are useless in this case. However, once you get the required equipment, it is easy to use bait on a fishing rod in Stardew Valley. Here are the steps to do so after opening the inventory:

• On PC: Select bait using left-click or right-click to select the amount, then right-click on the fishing rod. Pressing right-click again detaches bait.
• On PlayStation: Select a single bait using Square or Cross for a stack, then Square on the fishing rod to attach it. Pressing Cross removes bait.
• On Xbox: Select a single bait using X or A for a stack, then X on the fishing rod to attach it. Bait is detached by pressing X.
• On Nintendo Switch: Select a single bait using A or Y for a stack, then A on the fishing rod. Pressing Y detaches the bait.

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All bait available in Stardew Valley

You can attach the following bait on a fishing rod in Stardew Valley:

• Bait: The most common bait in the game. Reduces the delay of fish nibbling by 50% while also reducing the chance of obtaining trash items.
• Magnet: Great for fishing for treasure in water bodies, however, this also means it is not ideal to use to catch fish.
• Wild Bait: Reduces the delay before a fish nibbles by 62.5% and also grants a chance to obtain two fish simultaneously
• Deluxe Bait: Reduces the delay between fish nibbling by 67% and increases fishing bar size by 12 pixels
• Target Bait: Increases the chance of obtaining a specific kind of fish obtainable in an area at that given time and season
• Challenge Bait: Reduces the delay between fish nibbling by 62.5% but primarily grants triple the fish for perfect catches; to compensate, fishes will escape if they escape the bar after the third time.
• Magic Bait: Allows catching any fish regardless of the season, time, weather, and water body

This is all you need to know about putting bait on a fishing rod in Stardew Valley. The game is available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.