Welcome fellow Stardew Valley enthusiast! I really appreciate your visit to my guide. I set out to give back to the Stardew Valley community in some small way, and ended up doing so by contributing a different kind of guide. That guide, found here, Stardew Valley Amber Alert, was well received by most users, so I decided to follow it up with another story from Stardew Valley.

It turned out to be a longer story than I was expecting to write, but it is still short enough to qualify as a "short story". This is essentially a draft copy, if you will, that I will polish a bit more as I marinate on it. Please ignore the typos, grammatically errors, etc. until I can amend them, or better yet you can point them out in the comment section if you'd like. I should also state that I am not a fisherman, so I apologize in advance if I completely slaughtered some aspect of the experience.

Well, without further ado, I hope you will enjoy the story!

"Legend" © 2019 by Taskmaster

"Legend!" Apparently that's the name the locals of Pelican Town and the surrounding Stardew Valley area have given to a particular, long-lived, wily old fish that is said to call one of the lakes in the region home. That's the story I was told, at least, by a talkative gent at a roadside diner near there as we chowed down on grilled cheese sandwiches and slurped our chicken noodle soup.

See I'm an avid fisherman, and I was returning from a day trip out to Whitewater Wash, a stream brimming with salmon this time of year. I was famished from my long day in the hot sun and the frigid water, not to mention from the long hike from my truck to the stream through some pretty rugged terrain, and back, of course, so when I spotted that little diner on the side of the road as I was driving home, I was more than happy to stop in for a bite. I was reassured by the presence of several other vehicles in the parking lot that at least this greasy-spoon had some other customers and hopefully served some decent food.

I guess the middle-aged man in the booth next to me overheard my conversation with the waitress as we bantered about my fishing trip and my growling stomach. Dressed in some worn overalls he politely asked if he could join me for a spell as I ate. I have nothing against some company so he sat down and we began chatting about this and that related to my fishing trip. As we were enjoying our soup and sandwich he began to tell me about a local legendary fish - his word I believe - aptly named "Legend" that lived in the waters around Stardew Valley. After listening to everything he could tell me about this mythic fish I thanked him for the conversation, paid for our lunches and continued on my way home.

Now I'm not one to believe in Loch Ness monsters or Bigfoot, but I love to fish as I said, and Stardew Valley was close enough to home that I could afford a few day trips to check out his story. One thing I've learned over the years is that there is usually some snippet of truth in these old tall tales that doesn't require magic or superstition to prove. I made up my mind on the drive home to take a little trip out to Pelican Town one of these weekends to learn more about this so-called "Legend".

***

It was a few weeks later that I was able to get away from work and obligations to take a trip out to Pelican Town. As I sat at the railroad crossing leading into town watching the train meander by, metal wheels clanking over steel rails, dirt and clay dropping from the rumbling metal cars, and the locomotive's air-horn fading into the distance, I was reminded of my childhood. As a boy I would wander down the snaking train tracks that ran alongside the road near my house collecting glass soda bottles to earn a nickel or a dime, and gathering wild blackberries, that would stain my fingers a deep purple that lasted for days. I would even place pennies on the rails to have them flattened into elongated shapes by the sheer massive weight of the train rolling over them. I watched as the caboose finally passed by and disappeared around the bend, taking my memories with it. And with the train now gone I continued on my way into Pelican Town.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a JojaMart just outside of town, but then again it sometimes seems like those things are on nearly every corner. Still, I guess I was expecting Pelican Town to be more of a backwater Podunk, though I had no reason for that opinion beyond my own prejudices. I stopped into the JojaMart for some soda and supplies, and possibly some information. Of course, no one working in the JojaMart had any knowledge of the actual town or the local fishing scene. Figures!

Pelican Town proper turned out to be beautiful little town with a few prim and proper houses, surrounded by white picket fences and small, neatly-tended trees and flowers. I met a man who was out in front of his house tending a small garden. As luck would have it he turned out to be the mayor. Lewis was his name, and he was obviously very proud of his hometown. He happily answered all my questions and provided details on everything Pelican Town had to offer. When I explained why I was in town he directed me to the bait shop down by the ocean run by an old sea salt named Willy, and recommended I check the archive in the town's library. He invited me to the town's winter ice-fishing tournament that was taking place just a couple weeks away then wished me well as he returned to his gardening.

I decided to drop by the library first since it was closest. I mulled over the ice fishing tournament as I walked across the small bridge to a modest building that was the town's library. It was pretty well furnished inside given the town's size and population. A friendly, southern gentlemen, sporting a large tapered moustache, who introduced himself as Gunther, pointed me to a small archive area, but cautioned me I might not find much about local fishing. Sadly he was correct. My research only turned up a story or two about the "Legend" and those were basically "the one that got away" stories. Still it was worth a shot, but I left the library feeling disappointed.

The bait shop was next on the list so I headed for the beach, passing a few kids playing jump rope or attempting tricks on a skateboard. Pelican Town appeared to be a peaceful and idyllic place to live and grow up. It was nice not having the hustle and bustle of the city following me at every turn. The beach was not far away and within minutes I was tromping across a wooden dock protruding out into the open ocean, at the end of which sat the bait shop.

The outside of the shop looked exactly as I would expect a "bait shop" to look like. I can’t put into words exactly what that means, but I think you understand what I am saying. The smell of the ocean on the cool, crisp breeze, the salt that sprayed up as the small swells crashed against the wood pilings that supported the pier, and the occasional gull crying overhead, played like a symphony to my senses. I paused a moment to drink in my surroundings before reaching for the door.

A little bell above the door jingled to announce my arrival as I stepped inside. A weathered looking man, clearly a fisherman, who I presumed to be Willy, stood behind the counter stocking bait and lures. I could tell from the barely masked surprise on his face that the bait shop did not receive too many customers, at least outside of peak beach season. As we talked about fishing around Pelican Town and "Legend", Willy told me several family stories pointing out old photos that hung on the shop walls. His pappy was an avid fisherman, but was never able to land the fabled fish, and Willy decided not to pursue it out of respect for his dad's memory. We chatted about nothing for a long while before I was ready to leave. I thanked Willy for the information as I headed out with a new Iridium rod and a couple trap bobbers. Like the Mayor, Willy made sure to invite me to the upcoming ice-fishing tournament. As I walked down the pier to toward the beach I realized that there aren't many people like Willy left in the world anymore.

According to Willy, "Legend" is most often spotted in a small lake up in the nearby mountains and is more active during the spring time. It may be that he returns only to spawn, or that he lives in the lake year around, but just doesn't get seen as often. It might even be that the current fish referred to as "Legend" is really just different offspring returning to spawn in the lake over time. There is no way to tell for sure, but I wanted to at least scout out the area around this mountain lake before the day slipped away. I headed back toward town then beyond toward an old community center. From there I hiked up the dirt paths and trails that lead up to the mountain lake.

I took note that the fresh lake water, which flowed down from the melting snow at higher elevations in the mountains, was pure and clean, meaning you could see nearly to the lake bottom on a sunny day like this one, but that also meant the fish could see you and your attempts to hook them. I knew I'd have to wait for cloudy, overcast weather if I was going to have any luck catching a survivor like "Legend". I spotted a large, sunken log not far from shore that appears to be great natural protection and several fish swarmed around it.

As I walked along the bank a frog suddenly leapt from the grass and muck into the water creaking a splash and startling me but good. As I looked down to where the frog hit the water I spied something glittering and shiny along the edge of the lake. I scooped a handful of gunk out of the water and picked through it until I found a small pebble-sized golden rock. It was lovely to look at but surely it was just fool's gold so I tossed it back into the water. I continue to canvas the lake but settled on the old log as my primary target.

As I was making my way back to the trail leading to town I spotted smoke wafting through the trees and caught smell of burning wood. Fearing a forest fire I attempted to tracked the fire to its source. In a small clearing I came across a camper cooking fish over a small fire. Turns out that he was more a hermit than a camper, living out alone in the woods, by the name of Linus. I still had some of the supplies I purchased at JojaMart in my knapsack, so I rummaged a couple snack out and offered to share them. Linus agreed to take some food but insisted on giving me something in return. He saw my fishing gear and indicated he could show me how to make a special bait that local fish went nuts over. I was all ears.

Thankfully Linus was to be the last distraction I encountered that day. I casually made my way back to my truck, packed the new rod and supplies into the back, then drove home satisfied with the notion I was going to catch "Legend" the next opportunity I had. It might just be the catch of a lifetime. Tired, I drifted off to sleep easily as I let thoughts of my trip to Pelican Town replay over in my mind. What a quaint little town.

***

I was surprised to find myself in Pelican Town just a few weeks later, joining the festivities around the ice-fishing tournament. I had not planned to participate, yet I found myself there anyway, being welcomed by Mayor Lewis and briefly chatting with Willy. I even bumped into Demetrius, who was distracted measuring the ice thickness and oxygen levels in the freezing water of the holes that were cut out of the ice. As I waited for the fishing competition to start I had the chance to check out the ice sculptures carved by some local residents, which were very impressive, as well as strike up a couple informal chats with the town folks.

I managed to place second in the fishing tournament, landing two less fish than some local farmer, whose name I didn't catch. It seems like everyone had a good time, including me, and folks didn't seem to mind my intrusion into their activities. Gus, with a wide grin, invited me to stop in to his saloon anytime for some home-cooked food, and Pierre, who runs a small grocery store, promoted his inventory of juices and wines, and jams and jellies, all home-made locally, as his wife stood by appearing to be uncomfortable. The town's doctor, Harvey, offered a free check-up should I come down with a cold or flu from being out in the wet ice and snow all day. I think I smiled and whistled nearly the entire way home.

***

With the arrival of spring I kept my eyes on the weather looking for that perfect, overcast day that would afford me the best chance of landing "Legend". I kept all my gear and supplies packed in the truck so that I could be ready on the spur of the moment. Of course, like most everyone else, I had a job to attend to so I could pay my bills, making the weekend the best choice for a fishing outing. I didn't have to wait long before spring showers were forecast for the upcoming Saturday, with an 80% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms. This was going to be my chance!

Saturday morning traffic was almost non-existent as the sun slowly rose over the trees that lined the highway. The skies were already starting to darken in the west and it would not be long before gray thunderclouds and rising sun met in the dawn skies. The JojaMart was still dark when I passed by and the residents of Pelican Town were still sleeping as I started my trek up to the lake. The sky was already starting to spit scattered drops of rain so I donned my hunter green, plastic poncho. By time I reached the spot along the lake's bank that I had picked out in my mind during my previous visit, it was raining steady and thunder rumbled in the distance.

By mid-morning my cooler held a pair of Smallmouth Bass and a nice sized Bullhead, and one Largemouth Bass that got away. There was no sign of any fish that one might attach the name "Legend" to though. Doubt began to creep in. What if "Legend" was really just a legend? Nothing more than a tall tale that had been passed down from father to son? I pushed those negative thoughts aside as I scanned the surface of the lake for my next cast. A dragon fly caught my attention as it flit over the lake surface in brief spurts, landing amid the rain drop ripples, then skittering to a new spot, dancing around a cluster of lily pads. In the blink of an eye a large fish - maybe 4 foot long - breached the water, mouth agape, and swallowed the dragon fly before plunging back into the water with a splash. I stood there stunned, with my own mouth agape, as I realized I had just witnessed "Legend" in action!

My heart raced and I excitedly changed the lure I was using to a different fly, which took longer than expected as my hands were shaking. Eventually my cast landed near where the fish had appeared, out by the submerged log, and I played the lure across the lake surface like a dragon fly. Once, twice, three times I cast out with no luck. Suddenly the rod bent and the line went taut as the lure disappeared under the water with a burst of force. It was a real struggle battling what had to be “Legend” as it was not like the earlier fish I had caught. Just as quickly as the fish hit, the line went lax and the rod straighten, as the fish managed to free itself.

Over the next hour or two I managed to hook what I believe was “Legend” a couple more times, but after some hard-fought battles I still came up empty, but I noticed that I was managing to keep “Legend” on the hook longer and longer, as he was exhausting himself from each fight. I knew that if I persevered I could land this fish today. It was just a matter of time! I reeled in a few more bass and bullhead fish as I continued working to land the biggest prize of them all. I even let “Legend” get away another time or two. I paused for a few minutes to hurriedly eat a ham and cheese sandwich while there was a short break in the rain. I didn’t want to give “Legend” too long of a break fearing he would recover his strength, so I threw the line out again and jiggled it across the surface. Bam! “Legend” took the bait again and started running.

I tightened the drag as I knew he was tired from continued exertion. I dropped the rod forward to create slack and then reeled in the line quickly, yanking the rod left and right forcing him to expend even more energy in his effort to escape. I could sense this was it... this was the time I was going to land the "Legend!" I fought and battled the rod, the rain, and the fish, as slowly but surely I was drawing him toward me. He broke the surface with a large splash and flip of his tail, but it was all for naught. I was going to win the fight this time. AS I reeled in more and more line I could see his dark bulk under the water getting closer and closer.

It was over! I could hardly believe it. I had beaten "Legend!" I hoisted the fish out of the water by the mouth with my gloved hand, holding him out at arms length so I could get a good look at him. He closely resembled a Largemouth Bass, but not exactly, so I wondered if he might be the offspring of a cross-breed pairing, but who could say. It was obvious the fish was exhausted as it dangled there, literally a fish out of water, struggling to breathe and occasionally flexing his powerful tail from side to side. I carefully removed the hook from the side of his mouth, where the struggle had torn some flesh, but it was not an unrecoverable wound. I was ready to place this large fish into the cooler and call it a day, but as I stood there soaked to the bone, shaking like a wet dog, aching from the exercise, seeing the bounty of fish already in the cooler waiting to be next week's dinner, a sudden flood of memories rushed into my mind.

There was Willy telling me the stories about fishing with his dad and the old photos on the wall of his shop, the newspaper clippings in the library archive about folks fishing with their family, the towns folks all relating their "Legend" stories during the Ice Festival, even the the old gentleman at the diner. "Legend" was, well, just that, a legend, and I was about to destroy all of that in an instant just for some fish fillets. I looked at "Legend" who was now no longer struggling and seemingly resigned to dying, if a fish could understand that idea. I would still be the guy that caught "Legend" even if no one ever knew, even if I released him and never told Willy. No one could take that accomplishment away, but I had no need for a trophy to prove it.

I gently lowered "Legend" back into the lake and held him until I was sure he had recovered from the shock. I released my grip on that great fish and watched as it floundered for a few moments before flicking its tail and swimming slowly toward the sunken log. You know, maybe I wasn't the only fisherman to catch "Legend". Maybe others had experienced the same thrill I had and released him for another day. I guess I'd never know for sure. Bone-weary, yet filled with exhilaration, I gathered all my gear, hoisted the cooler off the ground and casually made my way down the mountain to my truck. I dried off and changed clothes in the JojaMart bathroom before heading off for home for some well-deserved rest.

This story or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

It should be understood that Stardew Valley content and materials are trademarks and copyrights of Stardew Valley or its licensors. All rights reserved

Wow, I'm impressed! You hung in there until the very end. I really appreciate that and hope it was not a waste of your valuable time! I'm not fishing for compliments, but if you were hooked by the story maybe I can lure you into giving this guide a good rating. It is with baited breath that I await your comments and feedback!

I have created a nice collection of guides at this point, from tips and tricks to jokes and stories across numerous games. You can check them out here if you so desire: Taskmaster's Guides!

I also have a MOD available that is along the same lines as this guide. You might want to check it out: Junk Mail MOD[www.nexusmods.com]

Again, thanks for checking this guide out. I appreciate any feedback you wish to leave. I hope you will check out my existing guides and keep an eye out for new ones. If you happen to know the best way to find the Elvish Jewelry, I'm all ears!!