How to Fish: Fix crashes, low FPS and audio problems

Start by updating How to Fish, restarting Steam and checking the installed files. If the problem began when loading a particular world, preserve that world's saves before trying anything that replaces data. A crash, black screen or audio fault does not by itself identify one cause.

The game will not launch or keeps crashing

1. Restart the computer and launch Steam. Finish any pending game update.
2. In your Steam Library, right-click How to Fish and choose Properties.
3. Open Installed Files, then select Verify integrity of game files. Let the check finish before launching again.
4. Compare your hardware with the full requirements on the Steam store. The listed minimum includes Windows 10 or newer, a 64-bit processor and operating system, 8 GB RAM and a GTX 1050, RX 460 or equivalent.
5. Check Windows and graphics-driver updates, following the device manufacturer's instructions.

These steps follow Steam's verification instructions and launch troubleshooting. Verification checks the installation. It does not recover sold equipment, missing inventory or overwritten save progress.

If you use mods, record which ones are installed and whether the fault also occurs with the supported, unmodified game. Copy your saves somewhere separate before changing a modded setup. A mod that worked on an older patch may need its own update; there is no verified universal Thunderstore fix for this game.

Black screen or endless loading

First identify whether it happens at startup, while opening a saved world or only when joining a friend.

The August 21 update attempted to fix startup gray screens and joining black screens. Dazed Games did not claim those changes resolved every case. Check for updates, then use the installation checks above if the problem remains.

For a joining-only failure, follow co-op connection troubleshooting, including the main-menu Steam relay diagnostic. For a failure tied to one saved world, read save and Steam Cloud recovery checks. Do not start by deleting the save folder.

Low FPS or brief freezes

Check when the slowdown starts. A constant low frame rate, a sudden change after joining and a brief pause when buying a radio are different symptoms.

The September 4 patch fixed the FPS cap being overridden on lobby join and added music preloading to address the first radio purchase causing a lag spike. Update before treating those symptoms as a hardware problem.

For persistent low FPS, try a lower resolution and reduce available graphics settings one at a time. Compare the same location after each change. This is a practical way to identify an expensive setting; it does not promise a particular frame rate. Avoid comparing a quiet solo scene with a busy multiplayer encounter and assuming the setting alone caused the difference.

Missing, distorted or unexpectedly loud audio

Check the game's volume controls and the operating system's selected output device. If only voice chat fails, check the selected microphone too. Compare another application's sound to establish whether the fault is limited to How to Fish.

Two patches address specific audio symptoms. The August 24 update connected fire sizzling to the effects-volume control. The September 4 update upgraded the voice component, with hoped-for bug fixes. Neither announcement establishes a cure for every distorted-audio report.

Error 51 or a problem that survives these checks

There is no verified game-specific Error 51 remedy in the official sources used here. Save the exact message and note when it appears. Do not assume that an unrelated game's workaround applies.

Dazed Games directs support requests to its Discord bug-report forum. Include your operating system, hardware, game version, exact error and reproduction steps. Say whether the problem affects solo play, hosting, joining or one saved world, and whether mods are present. Since the August 27 patch, the game includes its version in player.log to help debugging. Review logs for personal information before sharing them publicly.