If we want Earl far away from his fishing net hammock, we need him to go fishing. Unfortunately, the river is blocked.

Earlier in the game, we saw a stream with a blockade in it - you might have forgotten it in all the commotion at the time.

Visit the woods entrance, and cross the stream - you'll find an 'old knife gate valve' that's stopping the river from flowing.

Not so fast - this thing is way too rusty to move. Nick says so in the signposted quote.

Look around town for something that could lubricate the valve and make it easier to use.

There's one place in town that should be jumping to mind when you think of lubrication.

On the far-left side of Lover's Lane, you can get a 'WD 404 penetrating oil can'. Sexy!

You can use it on the knife gate valve to loosen it up.

After using the valve, the water is flowing again!

Return to Earl's farm and take the net.