Fishing in Stardew Valley isn't just about earning gold—it's a significant part of completing quests and crafting valuable items. Rainbow Trout, in particular, is highly versatile. It’s an essential ingredient for recipes like Maki Rolls and Trout Soup and plays a significant role in certain quests during the summer season.
Rainbow Trout is only found in the summer on sunny days, adding a little of a seasonal element to fishing. This fish is exclusive to some specific locations, and you have to be aware of its season, time, and weather if you plan to catch it. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to catch Rainbow Trout in Stardew Valley.
How to Get Rainbow Trout
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+ 2Rainbow Trout is one of the most vibrant fish in Stardew Valley, prized for its appearance and versatility. Beyond cooking and tailoring, it’s essential for crafting items like Quality Fertilizer. While it’s not the most lucrative fish to sell, placing it in Fish Ponds can yield valuable rewards like Prismatic Shards, making it a worthy catch.
During the summer season, on sunny days, you can catch rainbow trout in the river and lake locations within Stardew Valley between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. It spawns commonly in the river near Pelican Town, the mountain lake by the Mines, and the Cindersap Forest River.
You can also use the Trout Derby festival on Summer 20 and 21 to catch Rainbow Trout all day. If you wish to skip the seasonal exclusivity, you can use a Magic Bait to catch Rainbow Trout anytime. Alternatively, you can also find Rainbow Trout at the Traveling Cart, which has a price between 195g and 1000g.
Farm Rainbow Trout
In Stardew Valley, you can also farm Rainbow Trout by placing them in a Fish Pond where they will reproduce every two days. Initially, each pond holds up to three fish, but you can increase the capacity by completing three specific pond quests. Rainbow Trout typically produce orange Roe, and as the pond population increases to nine or more, some rare items will also become available with a slight chance (0.09% daily) of Prismatic Shard.
Uses of Rainbow Trout
click to enlarge + 2Rainbow Trout serves many purposes in Stardew Valley. In the kitchen, it’s an essential ingredient for recipes like Trout Soup that grants a +1 Fishing buff. It’s also great for creating Maki Rolls or Sashimi, as these dishes accept any fish. For crafting, you can turn Rainbow Trout into Quality Fertilizer using four sap, making it a versatile addition to your inventory.
Rainbow Trout is also used in a few town quests, where characters like Demetrius and Willy may request it during the summer. Lastly, Rainbow Trout can be used at the Sewing Machine to create a unique Fish Shirt or as an orange dye in Emily and Haley's Dye pots.
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