Willy the Fisher: Your Stardew Valley Guide

This guide is part of a larger Stardew Valley resource: Stardew Valley: A Complete Guide and Walkthrough

Willy, the seasoned fisherman with a kind heart, is a key early contact in Stardew Valley. He provides your initial fishing rod, imparts fishing wisdom, and stocks essential supplies.

Building a friendship with Willy is straightforward and offers valuable rewards. Strengthening relationships is central to Stardew Valley, so take a break from farming, chat with Willy at the docks, and present a thoughtful gift. He particularly appreciates rare aquatic finds!

Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Willy, while a bit eccentric, is one of Stardew Valley's easiest NPCs to befriend due to his extensive list of favored gifts, expanded with the 1.6 update. Many new books, primarily fishing-related, are now Liked or Loved gifts. This guide covers befriending Willy in the latest game version.

Gift Guide

Gift-giving is the key to friendship in Stardew Valley. Find Willy at his shop (most weekdays), fishing (Saturdays), or at the Stardrop Saloon/beach/river (evenings).

Remember Willy's birthday is Summer 24. Gifts given on this day provide an 8x friendship boost.

Loved Gifts (+80 Friendship)

These top-tier gifts significantly improve your relationship. Some, like rare fish, are challenging to obtain, but pumpkins and mead are readily accessible. He also values books expanding his fishing knowledge and valuable crafting materials.

• Fish: , , ,
• Books: ,
• (Honey in a Keg)
• (Gold Ore in Furnace)
• (Iridium Ore in Furnace)
• (Mines)
• (Fall Crop)
• All universally loved gifts

Liked Gifts (+45 Friendship)

These are excellent alternatives if Loved gifts are scarce. Willy enjoys most seafood dishes, so share your culinary creations.

• Fish-based cooked dishes (excluding Dish O' the Sea, Sashimi, Maki Roll – neutral)
• Fish: ,
• 
• 

Disliked & Hated Gifts

Avoid these to prevent friendship loss. Hated gifts are worse than disliked, but generally, steer clear of the following:

• Foraged goods
• Non-fish-based cooked dishes
• Life Elixir
• Universally disliked gifts (except fish – neutral, unless specified above)
• Universally hated gifts

Quests

Willy occasionally posts requests on the bulletin board outside Pierre's, offering gold and friendship points for completing them. He also sends two letters with fishing challenges:

• Catch A Squid: (Winter 2, Year 1) Rewards gold and 1 friendship heart.
• Catch A Lingcod: (Winter 13, Year 2) Rewards more gold and another friendship heart.

Friendship Perks

Willy shares four fishing-buff recipes as your friendship grows:

• (3 hearts): +1 Fishing
• (5 hearts): +2 Fishing
• ![Fish Stew](/uploads/50/173615360