There’s plenty of fish to catch in Stardew Valley. One such fish, the Woodskip, is required to complete the Speciality Fish bundle within the Community Center. The trouble is, it’s only found in one very specific location which isn’t accessible early on, unless you use a simple trick.
Woodskips have a few different uses other than the Community Center bundle, but I’ll get to those later. For now, let’s look at where to find a Woodskip and how you can sneak in if you’re hoping to catch one earlier than Stardew Valley will realistically let you.
How to catch a Woodskip in Stardew Valley
To catch a Woodskip, you’ll need access to the Secret Woods, which can be found off to the northeastern side of Cindersap Forest. Unfortunately, the Secret Woods are rendered inaccessible in the beginning of a playthrough and are unlocked by upgrading your axe twice to the Steel version.
Thankfully, if you’re wanting to get a Woodskip without upgrading, you have an option. You can bypass the log using a chair.
- Place a chair on the opposite side of the log
- Sit on the chair, then hop off again into the Secret Woods
- When you want to come back, move the chair to the Cindersap Forest side of the log and sit down again
Once you’re inside the Secret Woods, head over to the far left and find the small pond. This is the only location in Stardew Valley where you can catch a Woodskip, unless you’re playing on a Forest Farm, where you have a maximum of 17.5% chance to catch it. It can be caught during any season and in any weather, though is most common during non-rainy days.
It’s possible to find a Woodskip for sale at the Traveling Cart at any time, priced between 225 and 1,000 Gold, but this is far from guaranteed.
How to use a Woodskip in Stardew Valley
If you’ve caught a Woodskip and you don’t need it for your Speciality Fish Bundle, there are still a few things that can be done with it. One thing that shouldn’t be done with a Woodskip is as a gift to Villagers. At best, a few people feel pretty neutral about it, but the rest of the Villagers either actively dislike or even hate receiving a Woodskip.
Cooking recipes that can use Woodskip
Woodskip can be used in the following Recipes:
| Name | Recipe | Recipe source |
| Maki Roll | 1 of any Fish 1 Seaweed 1 Rice | The Queen of Summer (Summer 21, Year 1) OR Stardrop Saloon for 100 Gold |
| Quality Fertiliser | 4 Sap 1 of any Fish | Farming level 9 |
| Sashimi | 1 of any Fish | In the mail from Linus after reaching 3 hearts |
Tailoring for the Fishing Vest
Woodskip can be used in the spool of a Sewing Machine to get the Fishing Vest. It can also be used in the Dye Pots in Emily and Haley’s house to get orange dye.
Get more Woodskips with the Fish Pond
When placed in a Fish Pond, Woodskip will reproduce every two days. They can drop the following foraging items, as well as Roe:
- Wood
- Hardwood
- Acorn
- Maple Seed
- Pine Cone
