Fishing in Don’t Starve Together is more than a peaceful pastime, as it can also become a tool for optimal survival. However, the waters of The Constant can be unforgiving for the unprepared survivor. So keep reading this guide, as it offers practical wisdom and various mechanics for serious anglers.

Fishing in Don’t Starve Together: An Overview

Fishing demands the right gear and technique. Fulfill these requirements, and it’s possible to harvest various fish species from different biomes and seasons.

The Basics

The Fishing Rod

Don’t Starve Together players can’t catch fish without a fishing rod. Craft one at the Science Machine using 2x Twigs and 2x Silk, which you can use in lakes and ponds. Fishing at sea, on the other hand, needs the Sea Fishing Rod that you can craft using 1x Boards and 3x Silk at the Science Machine.

Float & Bait

Effective fishing in Don’t Starve Together requires a float and bait. Some floats provide small casting bonuses, while more advanced variants, like the Malbatross Quill Float, significantly extend reach and precision. As for baits, players can use consumable options, such as Seeds, Berries, and Rot. These items are generally easy to farm, allowing for frequent fishing expeditions. However, certain fish are picky eaters and will only find specific baits attractive. So, match your bait to your target fish to prevent wasting resources. Also, below is a list of all craftable floats in Vanilla Don’t Starve Together:

• Wooden Ball Bobber: 1x Log
• Hardened Slip Bobber: 1x Driftwood Piece
• Jet Quill Float: 1x Jet Feather
• Crimson Quill Float: 1x Crimson Feather
• Azure Quill Float: 1x Azure Feather
• Saffron Quill Float: 1x Saffron Feather
• Down Quill Float: 1x Down Feather
• Malbatross Quill Float: 1x Malbatross Feather

Note: Craft floats at the Tackle Receptacle.

Reusable Lures

The Tackle Receptacle not only lets you craft floats, but lures as well. Lures are plenty in Don’t Starve Together, and each type has unique properties. For instance, Spoon lures attract all small and medium fish. Additionally, use the appropriate Spoon lure at specific times of day to increase your chances of catching your desired fish. Then, there are Spinnerbaits, which only attract large fish. There’s also the Stupefying Lure, which has low base charm but has a huge reel bonus and fish stamina drain. Other lures in Don’t Starve Together include the Snow Day and Rainy Day Lures, which are unaffected by weather, and the Heavy Weighted Lure that guarantees the caught fish to be in the top 20% of its weight class. Below are all the craftable lures in Don’t Starve Together:

• Sunrise Spoon: 2x Flint and 1x Red Cap
• Dusky Spoon: 2x Flint and 1x Green Cap
• Nightflyer Spoon: 2x Flint and 1x Blue Cap
• Sunrise Spinnerbait: 1x Flint, 1x Red Cap, and 1x Beefalo Wool
• Dusky Spinnerbait: 1x Flint, 1x Green Cap, and 1x Beefalo Wool
• Nightflyer Spinnerbait: 1x Flint, 1x Blue Cap, and 1x Beefalo Wool
• Rainy Day Lure: 1x Cookie Cutter Shell and 1x Mosquito Sack
• Snow Day Lure: 1x Cookie Cutter Shell and 1x Ice
• Stupefying Lure: 1x Cookie Cutter Shell and 1x Stinger
• Heavy Weighted Lure: 1x Cookie Cutter Shell and 1x Beefalo Wool

Controls (Fishing Minigame)

Fishing in Don’t Starve Together starts with casting, which is done by right-clicking near a body of water. Pressing the right mouse button moves the lure closer to you. Press right-click again when the fish bites to hook it, and the fishing minigame begins. Hold the right mouse button to keep the line tension within the ideal band. Release the button if the tension is too high. Resume only when the rod drops back to a lower angle. This push-and-pull rhythm is the core mechanic of this minigame.

Other Things to Consider

Line Tension

Line tension when fishing in Don’t Starve Together has three visible stages: Low, Good, and High. The goal of the minigame is to keep the tension level in the “Good” band. The fish often veers off course when the tension is low. On the other hand, the critter burns through the tension rapidly, increasing the risk of the line snapping. The only way to check if the line tension is good or bad is by checking your character’s posture. For instance, if your DST survivor is forcing itself too much, it’s an indicator that the line’s tension is high.

Lure Charm

Each lure has a base charm and reel charm bonus that activate when it’s in motion. Players can see this value when the lure hits the water, and the sum is the base charm plus the reel bonus. For example, Spinnerbaits have a 40% base charm and a 40% reel bonus, for a total lure charm of 80%. The higher the lure charm, the better the chances of a fish biting the hook. Returning to the previous example, a Spinnerbait with 80% lure charm should allow a fish to bite on the first or second nibble. Remember, timed reeling is important. Start with a short reel as soon as the fish begins its approach to maximize charm. Then, wait for the fish to bite. It’s also important to mention that it's best to let consumable baits remain idle at all times, as they lose all charm when moved.

Fish Stamina

Each fish in Don’t Starve Together starts with 100% stamina once hooked. It depletes only when the fish is swimming away, while line tension remains high. Reducing the fish’s stamina also shortens its “runaway” phases. Some items can help accelerate stamina drain. One notable example is the Stupefying Lure, although it’s not as attractive to fish as other lures.

Player Hunger

Remember, fishing in Don’t Starve Together takes time. Keep a close eye on your Hunger and Sanity levels while catching fish to prevent unwanted deaths. Consider with other players in a Don’t Starve Together server to ensure food items are always available at your base.