Stardew Valley Trout Derby Guide
The Trout Derby is a fishing mini-festival introduced in version 1.6. It takes place during Summer and offers players a chance to win valuable prizes by catching Rainbow Trout with special Golden Tags.
When and Where
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Summer 20th and 21st |
| Time | 6:10 AM to 2:00 AM (both days) |
| Location | Cindersap Forest, by the river near Marnie’s Ranch |
| Season | Summer |
Unlike most festivals, the Trout Derby does not close shops or homes in Pelican Town. Time continues to pass normally, and you still need to feed your animals.
How It Works
Golden Tags
During the festival, every Rainbow Trout catch (from anywhere except Fish Ponds) has a 33% chance to give you a Golden Tag.
- This chance is multiplied by the number of Rainbow Trout caught at once:
- 1 Trout = 33% chance
- 2 Trout = 66% chance
- 3 Trout = 99% chance
- Only 1 Golden Tag can be obtained per catch, even if multiple trout are caught
- If you get a Fishing Treasure Chest, the Golden Tag comes with the chest
- Golden Tags carry over from day to day and can be saved for subsequent years
Prize Booth Rewards
Exchange Golden Tags at the Derby Booth for prizes. The first prize is always:
First Prize (Guaranteed)
- Tent Kit (1)
Subsequent Prizes (In Order)
After the Tent Kit, prizes are given in this repeating sequence:
| Order | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bucket Hat (1) |
| 2 | Crab Pot (1) |
| 3 | Mystery Box (3) |
| 4 | Diamond (1) |
| 5 | Mounted Trout (1) |
| 6 | Deluxe Bait (20) |
| 7 | Triple Shot Espresso (2) |
| 8 | Quality Sprinkler (1) |
| 9 | Warp Totem: Farm (3) |
| 10 | Omni Geode (3) |
After receiving all 10 prizes, the cycle repeats starting from Bucket Hat again.
Note: Each Golden Tag must be exchanged individually, even if you have multiple tags.
Optimal Strategies
Best Bait and Tackle
-
Challenge Bait (Best option)
- Catches 3 fish at once when you get a perfect catch
- With 3 Rainbow Trout, Golden Tag chance becomes 99%
- If you can consistently get perfect catches, this is the most efficient
-
Rainbow Trout Bait
- Significantly increases Rainbow Trout spawns
- Craft at a Bait Maker using Rainbow Trout
- You can bring the Bait Maker to the festival to craft more on-site
-
Training Rod (Last resort)
- Only useful if you have low fishing level and no bait/tackle
- Makes catching easier but limits fish quality
Best Tackle
- Cork Bobber - Increases fishing bar size, making perfect catches easier
- Any fishing buff food also helps maintain perfect catches
General Tips
- Fish Close to Shore - Being close to shore with no luck buffs and low fishing level actually improves Rainbow Trout chances
- Bring a Bait Maker - Set it up at the festival to convert caught trout into more Rainbow Trout Bait
- Save Golden Tags - They carry over between years, so you can save up for future derbies
- Check the Sign - A few days before the festival, a sign appears at the derby location with event details
Festival Characters
- Willy is present at the festival, making his shop unavailable during the event (but you can still give him gifts)
- Various fishermen and fisherwomen from outside Pelican Town attend with unique dialogue
Fun Secret
If you consume Mayonnaise to recover energy during the festival, nearby fishers will react with humorous dialogue:
- “Gross…”
- “Did you just…?”
- “Why?!”
Last updated: 2026-06-15