Trout Derby, SquidFest, bait, tackle, and live-time routing
Stardew Valley Fishing Festivals Guide
Trout Derby and SquidFest are not frozen festival days. Treat them like high-value fishing routes: feed animals first, bring bait and buffs, clear inventory, then turn Rainbow Trout or Squid catches into Golden Tags, tier rewards, Mystery Boxes, books, hats, decor, and fishing supplies.
2
festival routes
2 days
each event
6:10am
start time
Time continues during both events, so normal chores and animal care still matter.
Targeted bait from the Bait Maker can turn the first Rainbow Trout or Squid into better odds for the rest of the day.
Trout Derby uses Golden Tags that carry over, while SquidFest resets the Squid counter each day.
Mini fishing festival routes
2 festival routesSummer / 20-21 / Rainbow Trout and Golden Tags
Trout Derby
鳟鱼大赛
Trout Derby rewards repeated Rainbow Trout catches. Use targeted bait, Challenge Bait if you can make perfect catches, fishing food, and a nearby bait plan; Golden Tags carry between days and future years.
Winter / 12-13 / Daily Squid targets and prize tiers
SquidFest
鱿鱼节
SquidFest is a two-day target ladder. The catch counter resets between Winter 12 and Winter 13, so each day needs its own Beach plan, fishing buffs, Squid Bait, tackle, and inventory space.
Prep checklist
Animals, shops, errands, and 2am deadline
Time-passing festival day
时间流逝节日
Unlike most festivals, Trout Derby and SquidFest do not freeze the valley. Feed animals, handle urgent crops, and then fish until the route's cutoff.
Targeted bait from the first catch
Bait Maker route
造饵机路线
Bring or place a Bait Maker near the fishing spot so the first Rainbow Trout or Squid can turn into targeted bait for the rest of the day.
Fishing level, bar size, tackle, and perfect-catch consistency
Fishing buff stack
钓鱼增益组合
Food buffs, Cork Bobber, Trap Bobber, Deluxe Bait, and late-game fishing tools make the event more reliable than raw casting volume alone.
Tags, fish, boxes, books, hats, bait, and decor
Reward inventory
奖励背包空间
Both festivals can fill a bag quickly. Empty inventory first so fish, Golden Tags, Mystery Boxes, tier prizes, and unique decor do not interrupt the run.