How to Catch a Frog in Stardew Valley: Complete Guide for Modded and Vanilla Gameplay
If you’ve played Stardew Valley long enough, you’ve likely heard the familiar croak of a frog on rainy days or seen one hop through the bushes. This often sparks the question: “Can you catch a frog in Stardew Valley?”
The answer depends on whether you’re playing the vanilla version of the game or using the popular Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE) mod. This guide covers how to catch a frog in Stardew Valley in both scenarios, so no matter your setup, you’ll know exactly what to do.
🟢 Can You Catch a Frog in Vanilla Stardew Valley?
In the base (vanilla) game, you cannot catch frogs. Frogs are non-interactive ambient creatures that appear during rainy days in Spring and Summer, primarily as part of background animation.
You’ll hear frogs croaking in the rain
You might see them jump from bushes or puddles
However, there’s no way to catch, trap, or use frogs in the unmodded version
Conclusion: In the vanilla version of Stardew Valley, frogs are for ambiance only and cannot be added to your inventory.
🟣 How to Catch a Frog in Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE)
In the Stardew Valley Expanded mod—one of the most popular and content-rich mods available—frogs become an actual catchable fish. You can catch them, raise them in Fish Ponds, and even gift them to villagers.
Here’s exactly how to catch a frog in SVE:
🎣 Frog Fishing Details (SVE Mod)
RequirementDetailsLocationMountain LakeSeasonSpring and SummerTime of Day6:00 PM to 2:00 AMWeatherRainy days onlyFishing LevelMinimum Level 5 required
🧰 Best Tools and Tips for Catching Frogs
Frogs in SVE behave like other rare fish and require moderate fishing skill to catch. Use these tips to increase your chances:
🐟 1. Upgrade Your Fishing Rod
Use the Iridium Rod to equip both bait and tackle. This allows you to:
Increase the rate of bites (with bait)
Slow down catch-bar decay (with tackle)
🪝 2. Use Helpful Tackle
Trap Bobber: Slows the progress bar drain, helpful for slippery frog movement
Cork Bobber: Increases your catch bar size, giving you more wiggle room
🧠 3. Eat Buff Foods
Boost your fishing level with food like:
Dish o’ the Sea (+3 Fishing)
Seafoam Pudding (+4 Fishing)
These buffs make catching frogs much easier, especially if you’re close to the required Level 5.
🌧️ 4. Monitor the Weather
Frogs only appear on rainy days in Spring and Summer. Use your TV’s weather report to plan ahead.
📦 What Are Frogs Used For?
Once caught, frogs can be put to good use in SVE:
🎁 Gifting
Frogs are liked or loved by several villagers in Stardew Valley Expanded, including:
Abigail
Morgan
Sebastian
Vincent
Gifting frogs is a great way to build relationships with these characters.
🐸 Fish Ponds
Place frogs into a Fish Pond to:
Breed additional frogs over time
Collect unique fish pond products (depending on future mod updates)
Add decorative or thematic flair to your farm
🛠️ How to Install Stardew Valley Expanded
If you’re interested in catching frogs but haven’t yet installed SVE, here’s a quick how-to:
Install SMAPI (Stardew Modding API)
Download Content Patcher and Stardew Valley Expanded from NexusMods
Follow installation instructions from the SVE page
Launch Stardew Valley through SMAPI
Once installed, you’ll get access to new characters, expanded maps, new events—and, of course, catchable frogs.
❗ Important Note: Frogs and the 1.6 Update
As of the 1.6 update, frogs are still not catchable in vanilla. If future updates change this, we’ll update this guide accordingly.
🏁 Final Thoughts: Can You Catch a Frog in Stardew Valley?
So, how do you catch a frog in Stardew Valley?
In the base game, you can’t catch frogs—they’re just background creatures.
In Stardew Valley Expanded, you can catch frogs by fishing at Mountain Lake during rainy Spring and Summer nights, with a minimum Fishing Level of 5.
If you're eager to expand your fishing horizons and build deeper relationships with villagers, installing SVE is well worth the effort.
