How to get and use a Bait Maker in Stardew Valley

If you’re hunting for a specific fish in Stardew Valley or you just want to increase your chances of, for some reason, stockpiling fish, one item that will make your life easier is the Bait Maker. 

Added in update 1.6, the Bait Maker can be used to create bait specifically designed to increase the likelihood of catching a specific fish, but it’s not that simple. In order to create a specific fish’s bait, you’ll need to already have that specific fish to make the bait. 

On the plus side, if you happen to find a specific fish that you haven’t caught yet at the Traveling Cart, you can buy it and use it to make the bait you need.

How to get and make the Bait Maker in Stardew Valley

The recipe for the Bait Maker unlocks once you reach fishing level 6, and you’ll need the following ingredients to make it:

• 3 Iron Bars
• 3 Coral
• 1 Sea Urchin

How to use the Bait Maker in Stardew Valley

To use the Bait Maker, all you have to do is place a fish inside. After 10 minutes, you’ll get between 5 and 10 pieces of “(Fish name) Bait”. For example, if you place Squid inside a Bait Maker, you’ll get between 5 and 10 Squid Bait in return.

The resulting bait sells for 10% of the original price of the fish, so it’s not worth doing in terms of making any profit. But one particularly good use for the Bait Maker is during the two new fishing festivals – Trout Derby and SquidFest. It’s a good idea to use the Trout or Squid from the first day to make bait for the second day, boosting your chances of obtaining all of the prizes available. 

To attach any bait to your rod, simply open up your inventory and left click on it before right clicking on your rod. You can’t equip bait on a Training Rod or Bamboo Pole.