How to Fish Mods — Best Mods & Installation Guide
How to Fish already has community mods on Thunderstore and Nexus Mods. Start with SaveBackups, use a mod manager when possible, and check whether each package is host-only or required for every player before joining co-op.
Guide evidence checked
- Curated mods
- 8
- Main sources
- Thunderstore and Nexus Mods
- Runtime
- Most selected mods use BepInEx 5
- Last checked
- August 28, 2026
Before installing How to Fish mods
These are unofficial community packages for Dazed Games' Steam release, App ID 4001890. They can add conveniences, new items, host rules, or testing controls, but Dazed Games and Valve do not provide support for them.
Most current packages hook a specific game build through BepInEx and Harmony. A normal How to Fish patch can therefore make a previously working mod fail until its author updates it.
Install mods with a mod manager
Install a supported manager
Use Thunderstore Mod Manager, r2modman, or Gale. A manager keeps each How to Fish profile separate and makes removal easier.
Choose the How to Fish profile
Select the How to Fish community and create a new profile instead of reusing a profile for another Unity game.
Install the package
Open the package listing and choose the manager install option. Required packages such as the correct BepInEx pack are installed as dependencies when the author declares them.
Launch modded and verify
Start the game through the manager. If it does not load, open BepInEx/LogOutput.log and check the newest error before adding another package.
Eight current How to Fish mods worth checking
| Mod | Best for | Install scope | Checked compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| ModMenu | Configure installed BepInEx mods in game | Client utility | Author lists How to Fish 1.0.5 |
| SaveBackups | Automatic rolling saves and in-game restore | Host or solo saves | BepInEx 5.4.23.5 dependency |
| Stackable Items | Stack matching inventory items | Same version recommended in co-op | Author recommends SaveBackups |
| MoreKnives | Add 19 purchasable knife variants | Host and every client | Tested on How to Fish 1.0.9 |
| HtF HostRules | Tune difficulty, damage and catch weights | Host only | Tested on How to Fish 1.0.9 |
| Fish Magnet | Move nearby dead fish as one catch pile | Every player using it | BepInEx 5 x64 |
| ConsoleMod | Diagnostics and extensible console commands | Client tool | Tested on How to Fish 1.0.9 |
| HowToFishCheatMenu | Solo and host testing controls | Solo or host only | Current listing checked Aug 28 |
Which mod should you install first?
Install SaveBackups first if you care about an existing world. Add ModMenu when you run several configurable BepInEx plugins, and use Stackable Items only after making a clean backup because its author warns that multiplayer testing is limited.
MoreKnives and Fish Magnet add visible gameplay content. HtF HostRules is for a host who wants custom difficulty and fishing rules. ConsoleMod is primarily a diagnostics and extension tool. HowToFishCheatMenu is best reserved for solo or hosted testing because it can bypass progression and affect achievement intent.
Manual BepInEx installation
Find the inner game folder
Open Steam\steamapps\common\How to Fish\How to Fish, the folder that contains How to Fish.exe.
Install the required BepInEx version
Use the version declared on the package page. Several current listings specify BepInEx 5.4.23.5 for the Windows x64 Mono build.
Merge the package folders
Copy the package's BepInEx folder into the inner game folder so its plugin DLL lands under BepInEx/plugins. Do not download loose DLL files from an unverified mirror.
Check the log
Launch once and read BepInEx/LogOutput.log. Confirm the intended plugin loaded without a missing dependency or patch-target error.
Multiplayer installation rules
| Requirement | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Host only | The server-authoritative host applies the rule for the lobby | HtF HostRules; host functions in CheatMenu |
| Every player | All participants need matching code or assets for correct behavior | MoreKnives; Fish Magnet users |
| Client utility | The package changes a local interface or tool without defining the lobby state | ModMenu; ConsoleMod diagnostics |
| Unclear | The author has not documented enough multiplayer testing | Back up, test privately, and do not assume compatibility |
How to uninstall or troubleshoot a broken mod
Close the game
Exit How to Fish before changing any plugin or dependency files.
Disable the newest package
Use the profile manager to disable the last mod you installed, then launch the same profile again.
Check dependencies and versions
Confirm the package's required BepInEx build, game version, and other plugins are installed exactly once.
Read the log
Open BepInEx/LogOutput.log and search from the last error upward for the plugin name, missing dependency, or failed Harmony target.
Restore only if needed
If the world state is damaged, restore the clean manual copy or a SaveBackups snapshot rather than overwriting every save at once.
Download and update safety
This wiki links to Thunderstore, Nexus Mods, and package-author listings instead of mirroring executables. Check the author, update date, dependency list, changelog, and community reports before installation.
A listing or antivirus scan is not a guarantee that binary code is safe, and this fan wiki does not audit compiled DLL files. Game updates can also move methods that Harmony or BepInEx hooks expect, so disable outdated mods when a new patch causes startup or lobby failures.
FAQ
Are How to Fish mods official?
No. The packages listed here are unofficial community projects and are not supported or endorsed by Dazed Games or Valve.
What is the easiest way to install How to Fish mods?
Use Thunderstore Mod Manager, r2modman, or Gale with a separate How to Fish profile so declared BepInEx dependencies are installed and packages can be disabled cleanly.
Do all friends need the same How to Fish mods?
It depends on the package. Host-rule mods can be host-only, while mods that add shared items or visuals may require matching versions for the host and every participating client.
Can mods break a How to Fish save?
They can change or add state, and updates can make plugins unstable. Keep a clean manual backup and use SaveBackups before installing gameplay-changing packages.
Evidence log
Sources
- Thunderstore: How to Fish packagesLevel B+
- Nexus Mods: How To Fish modsLevel B+
- Thunderstore: ModMenu by evansvlLevel B+
- Thunderstore: SaveBackups by hiccupLevel B+
- Thunderstore: Stackable Items by AtomicStudioLevel B+
- Thunderstore: MoreKnives by MoreKnifeSelectionLevel B+
- Thunderstore: HtF HostRules by ser1kaLevel B+
- Nexus Mods: Fish Magnet by trimlinkLevel B+
- Thunderstore: ConsoleMod by NewbiesLevel B+
- Thunderstore: HowToFishCheatMenu by YVLLevel B+