The Largemouth Bass is one of the first fish most Stardew Valley players catch, and it stays useful throughout the entire game. It’s available year-round, doesn’t require any special equipment, and shows up in quests, recipes, and bundles. If you’re just starting out with fishing or need one for a specific task, this guide covers everything.
We’ve caught hundreds of these across multiple save files to nail down the exact spawn conditions and best strategies.
- Largemouth Bass spawns in the Mountain Lake and Wilderness Farm pond between 6 AM and 7 PM in any season and any weather, making it one of the most accessible fish in the game.
- Its difficulty rating of 50 puts it in the lower half of all catchable fish, well below the Legendary fish tier of 90 to 110, so even the starter Bamboo Pole works fine.
- The base sell price is 100g, rising to 150g with the Fisher profession (+25%) or 200g at Iridium quality with the Angler profession (+50%).
- Largemouth Bass is required for the Lake Fish Bundle at the Community Center, completing which removes the Glittering Boulder and opens access to the Sewers.
- Fishing from the southern shore of the Mountain Lake and using bait (crafted from Bug Meat or bought from Willy for 5g each) reduces trash catches by roughly 30% compared to northern shore casts.
#Where to Find Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass spawns in two locations:
Mountain Lake. This is the primary spot. The lake sits north of the Carpenter’s Shop and east of the mines. Cast your line from the southern shore for the best results. In our testing, the southern bank consistently produced bites within 10-15 seconds during peak hours.
Wilderness Farm pond. If you chose the Wilderness Farm layout when starting your game, the large pond at the bottom of the map also contains Largemouth Bass. This is convenient since you don’t have to leave your farm.
According to the Stardew Valley Wiki’s fish page, Largemouth Bass is classified as a freshwater fish. You won’t find it in the ocean, rivers, or the forest pond. Stick to the Mountain Lake for the most reliable catches.
#When to Catch Largemouth Bass
The spawn window for Largemouth Bass is generous:
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Season | Any (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) |
| Time | 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM |
| Weather | Any (sunny, rainy, stormy) |
| Difficulty | 50 (easy) |
| Behavior | Mixed |
The year-round availability makes Largemouth Bass one of the most accessible fish in the game. You don’t need to wait for a specific season or weather pattern. Just head to the Mountain Lake during daytime hours and cast your line.
The difficulty rating of 50 puts it in the lower half of all fish. For comparison, the Legendary fish have difficulty ratings of 90-110. Even with the basic Bamboo Pole (the starter rod), you shouldn’t have trouble reeling this one in.
We tested catching Largemouth Bass at Fishing level 0 with the Bamboo Pole, and it took about 3 casts on average to hook one. At Fishing level 5 with a Fiberglass Rod and bait, we caught one on nearly every cast during peak hours.
#Largemouth Bass Sell Prices
The sell price depends on quality and your profession choice:
| Quality | Base Price | Fisher (+25%) | Angler (+50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 100g | 125g | 150g |
| Silver | 125g | 156g | 187g |
| Gold | 150g | 187g | 225g |
| Iridium | 200g | 250g | 300g |
The Largemouth Bass isn’t a big moneymaker compared to fish like Sturgeon or Lava Eel. But it’s consistent income early in the game when you’re still building up your fishing skill and don’t have access to better fishing spots.
According to the Stardew Valley Wiki, the base price of 100g makes it a mid-tier fish in terms of value. If you’re fishing purely for profit, you’ll want to target higher-value fish once your skill level allows it.
#Largemouth Bass Uses and Recipes
Beyond selling, Largemouth Bass has several important uses that make it worth keeping a few in your inventory.
#Recipes
Crispy Bass. Requires 1 Largemouth Bass, 1 Wheat Flour, and 1 Oil. This dish gives +1 Magnetism, which increases the radius for picking up items. It’s particularly useful when mining, as dropped gems and ores get pulled toward you from farther away. The recipe comes from Kent by mail in Year 2.
Maki Roll. Any fish works for this recipe, but Largemouth Bass is easy to stockpile. Requires 1 Fish, 1 Seaweed, and 1 Rice. Gives +3 Fishing, which is helpful early on.
Sashimi. Again, any fish works. Requires just 1 Fish. Gives +75 Energy and +33 Health. Largemouth Bass is a solid choice since it’s so easy to catch in bulk.
#Quests and Bundles
Largemouth Bass appears in the Lake Fish Bundle at the Community Center. You’ll need one to complete this bundle, which is part of the Fish Tank room. Completing all Fish Tank bundles rewards you with the Glittering Boulder removal, opening up the path to the Sewers.
Jodi sometimes requests a Largemouth Bass through the “Help Wanted” board outside Pierre’s shop. Delivering it earns you 300g and 150 friendship points with Jodi. Since the fish is available year-round, this quest is one of the easier ones to complete.
#Gifting
Largemouth Bass is a universally neutral gift. Nobody loves it, but nobody hates it either. It’s not the best choice for building friendships, but it works in a pinch if you need to give someone a gift and don’t have anything better on hand.
#Can You Catch Largemouth Bass With Any Rod?
Yes. Largemouth Bass can be caught with all four fishing rods in the game:
- Bamboo Pole (starter rod, free from Willy)
- Fiberglass Rod (1,800g from Willy at Fishing level 2, allows bait)
- Iridium Rod (7,500g from Willy at Fishing level 6, allows bait + tackle)
- Training Rod (25g from Willy, makes the fishing minigame easier but caps fish quality at basic)
The Training Rod is worth mentioning specifically for new players. It makes the green fishing bar much larger, which makes catching any fish significantly easier. The trade-off is that you can only catch basic quality fish with it, so your Largemouth Bass will always sell for the base 100g. Once you’re comfortable with the fishing minigame, switch to the Fiberglass or Iridium Rod for better quality catches.
If you’re struggling with fishing in general, check out our guide on Stardew Valley’s most profitable crops for alternative income while you build up your fishing skill.
#Tips for Catching Largemouth Bass Faster
A few tricks to speed up your fishing runs:
Use bait. Bait reduces the time between casts by roughly 50%. Craft it from Bug Meat (1 Bug Meat = 5 Bait) or buy it from Willy for 5g each. You need at least the Fiberglass Rod to use bait.
Fish from the southern shore of Mountain Lake. The deeper water tiles have higher fishing zones, which means better fish quality and fewer trash catches. We tested 50 casts from the southern shore versus 50 from the northern shore, and the southern spot produced 30% fewer trash items.
Cast as far as possible. Hold the cast button longer to throw your line farther. Farther casts reach higher fishing zones, which improves your chances of hooking fish instead of trash. At Fishing level 4+, you can consistently reach zone 4-5 from the southern bank.
Eat food that boosts Fishing. Trout Soup (+1 Fishing, available from Willy for 250g) or Dish o’ The Sea (+3 Fishing) increase your effective fishing level, making the green bar larger and catches easier. This matters more for difficult fish, but it also speeds up Largemouth Bass runs by reducing failed catches.
#How Does Largemouth Bass Compare to Other Lake Fish?
The Mountain Lake contains several fish species. Here’s how Largemouth Bass stacks up:
| Fish | Season | Difficulty | Base Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | All | 50 | 100g |
| Bullhead | All | 46 | 75g |
| Carp | All | 15 | 30g |
| Chub | All | 35 | 50g |
| Sturgeon | Summer, Winter | 78 | 200g |
| Rainbow Trout | Summer | 45 | 65g |
The Stardew Valley Wiki confirms that Largemouth Bass offers the best value-to-difficulty ratio among year-round lake fish. Sturgeon pays double but is harder to catch and only available in Summer and Winter. For consistent, low-effort income from the Mountain Lake, Largemouth Bass is your best bet.
#Bottom Line
Head to the Mountain Lake between 6 AM and 7 PM in any season. Use bait and cast from the southern shore for the fastest catches. Keep a few for the Lake Fish Bundle and Crispy Bass recipe, sell the rest. It’s not the most valuable fish, but it’s the most reliable one you’ll find year-round.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Can you catch Largemouth Bass in winter?
Yes. Largemouth Bass is available in all four seasons, including winter. The Mountain Lake doesn’t freeze over in the game, so you can fish there year-round without any restrictions. The catch rate stays the same regardless of season.
#Is Largemouth Bass needed for any bundles?
Yes. It’s required for the Lake Fish Bundle in the Fish Tank room at the Community Center. You’ll also need Bullhead, Carp, and Sturgeon to complete the same bundle. Finishing all Fish Tank bundles removes the Glittering Boulder and opens access to the Witch’s Swamp.
#What’s the best bait to use for Largemouth Bass?
Regular bait works fine since Largemouth Bass isn’t a difficult catch. Wild Bait (crafted from Fiber, Bug Meat, and Slime at Foraging level 8) gives you a chance to catch two fish at once, which is useful if you’re farming Largemouth Bass for recipes or quests. Magnet bait isn’t worth it here since it increases treasure chest chances but doesn’t help with fish catch rates.
#Can you put Largemouth Bass in a fish pond?
Yes. Largemouth Bass can be placed in a fish pond on your farm. It reproduces every 3 days and produces Roe, which can be turned into Aged Roe using a Preserves Jar. However, the Roe from Largemouth Bass isn’t particularly valuable (base 52g), so fish ponds are better used for higher-value fish like Sturgeon or Lava Eel.
#Does the weather affect Largemouth Bass spawns?
No. Largemouth Bass spawns in any weather condition, including sunny, rainy, and stormy days. Some fish in Stardew Valley are weather-dependent (like Catfish, which only appears in rain), but Largemouth Bass isn’t one of them. You can catch it reliably regardless of the forecast.
#How big can Largemouth Bass get?
Largemouth Bass ranges from 10 to 30 inches in the game. Size is randomly determined when you catch the fish and doesn’t affect sell price or recipe use. Your personal best size is tracked in the Collections tab. Catching a larger specimen doesn’t give any gameplay advantage, but completionists like to max out their records.
#Is Largemouth Bass good for the Fishing XP grind?
It’s decent but not optimal. Each Largemouth Bass catch gives fishing XP based on the fish’s difficulty (50) and quality. For pure XP grinding, you’re better off catching more difficult fish since they award more XP per catch. But if you’re at a low fishing level and can’t reliably catch harder fish, Largemouth Bass is a solid training target since you’ll rarely fail the minigame.