Hi all, I am in the Northern Hemisphere and I have seen that there is supposed to be a String Fish available. It is supposed to be a big fish in clifftop rivers. I nor my wife have ever seen one. Has anyone else managed to find one of these? If so what is the secret? Thanks
String Fish??
- Thread starter CJChamp
- Start date
I found the Stringfish a couple of weeks ago, it was the last fish I needed for the critterpedia and was a tricky one, it has a large shadow and only appears between 4pm and 9am. I got mine throwing fish bait into a clifftop river at the base of a waterfall, though you should be able to get one anywhere in a clifftop river, but having fish bait I think generally helps to spawn it.
Stringfish is one of the hardest species to catch. I'd suggest loading up on the fish bait and going for it. I had a similar struggle catching the Char. Over 400 fish bait later, I've still only managed to catch 2: one for my museum, and another to display in my house (as a means of torture for the fish, seeing as it was so elusive).
Pro tip: If after throwing fish bait, the shadow size isn't what you want, immediately throw another fish bait. The sound/action will scare the first fish and bring on a new one.
Pro tip: If after throwing fish bait, the shadow size isn't what you want, immediately throw another fish bait. The sound/action will scare the first fish and bring on a new one.
Rajescrossing
Raje
Yes that’s right it’s very hard to get this rare fish. Timing is 4pm- 9am . I m very lucky I found it 2 times , first time I used lots of fish baits and look for the large shadow for this fish , meanwhile you will get lots of other fishes so don’t give up keep trying you will get a success. And second time it spawned itself. For me I think there is no trick but I could be wrong
As others have mentioned, it's super rare and hard to get. I believe there's a mystery island that has a higher chance of spawning it (#19 here, there's another similar island listed, but I don't believe you can get it anymore), but obviously that's rare, as well. If you want to try it that way, you can increase your chances for getting it by only bringing the listed vaulting pole with, and leaving your ladder at home - if you get the island, craft one there, since bringing a ladder with will add some other mystery islands to the pool of possible islands.
Would trying your luck on the 2% chance for big fish island better than trying your luck getting fish bait to spawn the Stringfish with a 1% chance? Earning miles for 1 NMT, printing it, and then going to the island takes a lot more time than crafting 1 fish bait from scratch, so it doesn't seem like a good substitute to me.
Fish spawn rates here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kPUbZUwey_wlGeZuCaeH2ynlctkPZbv_i89-IXpieP8/edit#gid=0
JellyBeans
only half awake
stringfish is the one fish that continues to elude me this season 
by clifftop river does it basically just have to be above the first level? I've been trying at the top of a waterfall on the third level but I might try the bottom of that waterfall just for some variety
by clifftop river does it basically just have to be above the first level? I've been trying at the top of a waterfall on the third level but I might try the bottom of that waterfall just for some varietyAny cliff level will work. It just can't be on the ground level.
Poppies_92
Peace & Harmony
This fish is the biggest pain to catch, i would recommend crafting a bunch of fish bait. I would usually craft 30 a day and spend a week crafting bait for it to add up. 2nd and 3rd cliff will work also
To echo what everyone else has said, this is probs the hardest fish to catch in the game and was the last one I needed to complete my fish critterpedia.
Fishing bait is definitely a way to go, but also don't be afraid to always check up on your clifftops when you're running around doing other things. Every single one of my friends and me have all stumbled upon our first stringfishes by chance.
Fishing bait is definitely a way to go, but also don't be afraid to always check up on your clifftops when you're running around doing other things. Every single one of my friends and me have all stumbled upon our first stringfishes by chance.
I'm in the "discovered it purely by chance" boat. I always check for large shadows or even medium shadows, since fishing is one of the main ways I make bells in the game (at the moment). It was at the very top cliff for me, if it matters.
DarkSlayer1331
Senior Member
The stringfish is definitely one of the most elusive. Oddly enough, I randomly caught two in a POND up on a clifftop. This was back in March when the game had released. I still don't know why it spawned in the pond, because everything says rivers. And it's one of the ponds that was there from the very beginning of the game, I didn't make it or get rid of part of a river to make the pond. So... strange, but you could always try to see if you have better luck with a clifftop pond?
TheMagicIf
Senior Member
I had a lucky streak earlier this week where I caught four stringfish from the second-level river while playing regularly. I believe I used fish bait on the 31st of March last year to catch it before it left for the season. Just keep at it—I find the rarer fish appear when you're least expecting it!
I got one in my cliff pond on tier two.
Just use bait.
NH has kinda messed up the Stringfish.
It's no longer a big deal like the arapaima, etc, that grind when you reel them in.
The Stringfish is big, but just feels like a regular fish when you bring it in.
I miss how it was in NL.
The river fish were in the river, and that was pretty much it.
I use to love fishing, now I just catch whatever is needed for that month and nothing more.
Just keep using bait.
Just use bait.
NH has kinda messed up the Stringfish.
It's no longer a big deal like the arapaima, etc, that grind when you reel them in.
The Stringfish is big, but just feels like a regular fish when you bring it in.
I miss how it was in NL.
The river fish were in the river, and that was pretty much it.
I use to love fishing, now I just catch whatever is needed for that month and nothing more.
Just keep using bait.
Ugh, Stringfish. 
I spent ages looking for one in New Leaf to no avail, fishing day in and day out. No luck. Eventually, I just gave up all together. Not too long after that I randomly caught one and it was the worst/best feeling of my life.
I haven't started the hunt for one in New Horizons yet (I'm too shaken up from my last encounter.
) but I've caught rare fish using this technique.
1. LOTS OF FISHING BAIT. Make as much fishing bait as you possibly can. You think you have too much? MAKE MORE. You'll need all the luck you can get.
2. Place a fishing rod near your fishing spot. If you're a smarter person than me, you probably are never in need of a fishing rod. But if you're anything like me, you break your rods during the worst possible moments or just simply forget to make one. Placing a fishing rod or work table nearby ensures that you'l never be caught with your pants down.
3. Pray
Honestly, I wish I could give more specific advice, but it really just comes down to chance at a certain point. In the past, using a golden fishing rod gave you an edge on fishing, but I have no idea if that's still a thing in New Horizons. Might be something worth looking into. Good luck!
You'll need it.
I spent ages looking for one in New Leaf to no avail, fishing day in and day out. No luck. Eventually, I just gave up all together. Not too long after that I randomly caught one and it was the worst/best feeling of my life.I haven't started the hunt for one in New Horizons yet (I'm too shaken up from my last encounter.
) but I've caught rare fish using this technique.1. LOTS OF FISHING BAIT. Make as much fishing bait as you possibly can. You think you have too much? MAKE MORE. You'll need all the luck you can get.
2. Place a fishing rod near your fishing spot. If you're a smarter person than me, you probably are never in need of a fishing rod. But if you're anything like me, you break your rods during the worst possible moments or just simply forget to make one. Placing a fishing rod or work table nearby ensures that you'l never be caught with your pants down.
3. Pray
Honestly, I wish I could give more specific advice, but it really just comes down to chance at a certain point. In the past, using a golden fishing rod gave you an edge on fishing, but I have no idea if that's still a thing in New Horizons. Might be something worth looking into. Good luck!
You'll need it.
