novelraw Chapter 148: A New Fishing Rod
Chapter 148: A New Fishing Rod
"Alright, but if I want to reel in those legendary fish, I’ll need a good rod to match. Willy, got any recommendations?"
Leon glanced at the shelf on the right side of the cabin, where fishing rods of various styles were neatly lined up.
"Glass fiber rod. Strong, lightweight. If you use this to hook that giant catfish, you won’t have a problem." Willy got up and took a shiny silver fishing rod from the shelf, handing it over.
"Give it a try."
Leon took the rod. It was indeed light in his hand, and when he tested the reel and fittings, they felt much smoother than the bamboo rod he had been using.
"Anything better?" Leon pressed.
"Of course, but it’s going to be pricey." Willy nodded, then took out another rod shimmering with a faint purple sheen.
"Iridium rod. Combines the flexibility of gold with the unique properties of Iridium Ingots. It’s strong yet feather-light in your hands. When a fish bites, you’ll feel a distinct vibration through the rod—almost like the fish is signaling you itself. The reel and line are specially crafted to keep your catch secure and make the struggle easier. Best of all, you’ll never need to worry about maintenance. Unless something extraordinary happens, this rod will last you a lifetime."
Willy gave a detailed introduction to the Iridium rod.
"And the price?" Leon was tempted. Anything involving iridium was usually top-tier."Market price is 7,500G. I can let you have it at cost—5,000G."
"Can’t afford it." Leon shook his head. Lewis had given him 10,000G for farm development, but he wasn’t about to touch that. The cash he had on hand was barely over 3,000G.
"Then take this glass fiber rod for now. I’ll charge you the cost—800G. But you can use it first. Once you sell that giant catfish, we’ll adjust the price based on the auction results." Willy put away the Iridium rod and handed Leon the glass fiber rod instead.
"Thanks, Willy." Leon accepted. It was a fair deal, especially since he didn’t have enough on him.
"Don’t be polite with me." Willy pretended to grumble, then pulled out a small box filled with wriggling red worms.
"Take this bait too. Fresh and top quality—will greatly increase your chances of a bite. Don’t mention money; it’s not worth much."
"Alright, thanks. Though I’ve been working on my own bait formula." Leon accepted the worms and took out his homemade bait—dough kneaded together with worm meat.
"Hmm? Flour and some strong-smelling meat… smells like worm meat. Not bad, Leon. This bait might not be as effective in the ocean, but in freshwater it’ll be just as good as these red worms."
Willy pinched off a bit of the pink dough and sniffed it. He quickly identified the ingredients and gave his verdict.
"I’m more and more convinced I was right to find you when you moved to Pelican Town and give you a fishing rod. You’ve got real talent for fishing, Leon. If you didn’t already have a farm, I might have invited you to join my fishing business and handed it all over to you when I retired."
Willy’s expression was a mix of joy and regret.
"You’re still strong and fit. Retirement’s a long way off." Leon reassured him.
"Haha, maybe. But any sailor knows—on the next voyage, you could come back with a full catch… or not come back at all." Willy sighed.
"You’ve got money now. Why keep risking the sea?" Leon didn’t believe for a second that the man who dominated Stardew Valley’s fishing industry was poor.
"I’ve spent my whole life at sea. I’m used to it. Tie me to the shore, and life would be unbearably dull." Willy shook his head.
"Alright, you young folks shouldn’t be wasting time chatting with an old man. Go try your new rod. I’m going to bed."
Willy shoved Leon toward the door. Before closing it, he called out, "Leon, if you’re going after the legendary fish, hone your fishing skills first. Then gather 300 pieces of wood, have Robin repair the broken bridge to the Tidal Pool, and start with the summer legendary fish."
"I will. Goodbye, Willy." Leon nodded seriously and waved.
Once the door closed, Leon didn’t stay at the pier to fish—no point, since he couldn’t catch the nocturnal eel at this hour. The other spring coastal fish could be caught anytime, rain or shine. He preferred to head upriver for more catfish.
But before that, he needed to visit Rasmodius in the Coal Forest. He still had the Prismatic Slime Jelly the wizard wanted. He’d almost forgotten about it—until he took out the giant catfish to show Willy and spotted it in his backpack.
Leon was a man of action. Once he’d decided on his goal, he set off immediately.
The trip took an hour and a half. By the time he reached the Wizard’s Tower, he was tired.
After all, most of Stardew Valley’s paths turned into sticky mud in the rain. Every step in the muck clung to his boots, making him work to pull them free. Even with his sturdy physique, it wore him down.
"Come in."
Before Leon could knock, he heard Rasmodius’s voice. The tower door swung open on its own.
"You always seem to visit me when it’s raining."
Rasmodius looked at Leon’s muddy, bedraggled state and couldn’t resist teasing him.